The Illinois Senate passed the Illinois Religious Freedom Protection and Civil Union Act Dec. 1 by a 32-24 votecompleting a two-day, two-chamber sweep for the historic measure. Gov. Pat Quinn has already said that he will sign the bill, ensuring that Illinois will become the second state ( after New Jersey ) to have civil unions.
The law will become valid July 1, 2011.
There were some interesting developments in the voting: Dan Rutherford ( who was recently elected state treasurer ) was the only Republican who voted in favor of the measure. ( Christine Radogno, a Republican some view as pro-LGBT, voted against it. ) The Rev. James Meeksa Democrat and Chicago mayoral candidatealso voted against the bill.
Bernard Cherkasov, CEO of Equality Illinois, told Windy City Times that the passage "feels really good." He added that he felt "a sense of relief and a sense of jubilation because, finally, after so many years of waiting, tens of thousands of couples across the state will have the protections they have needed for so long.
"For me, it's [ also ] a bittersweet moment; it's sweet because they have [ the protections ] , and it's bitter because it they've had to do without. I've heard horror stories about families being denied hospital visitation and emergency medical-decision rights."
Regarding what's next for Equality Illinois, Cherkasov said that the organization "will follow them very closely, see how they're implemented and make sure that [ provisions ] are carried out so people get equal benefits."
When asked if he was worried about possible backlash from conservative groups such as the National Organization for Marriage or the Catholic Church, Cherkasov responded, "I hope they have learned this is not a battle to pick. The majority of Illinoisans support civil unions and support fairness for same-sex couples." Clarifying a point, he added, "While they launched a full-force attack in Illinois, in New Jersey at the Catholic Conference, they endorsed civil unions. So just because the Catholic Church here decided to oppose them, they don't speak for [ Catholics ] everywhere."
Cherkasov said that the measure's passage "is a crown jewel, but is not [ necessarily ] the biggest accomplishment. It will provide crucial protections for same-sex couples; however, at the same time, the Safe Schools Act will provide crucial protections for students." He added that "there is still a lot to do. There are transgender people who need protection from violence and harassment, and there are issues about people who get their gender markers change. We still have a long way to go."
( Rick Garcia, Equality Illinois' director of public policy, spoke separately about the bill's passage. The interview is also posted online. )
For now, however, many are focused on what concluded in the General Assembly Dec. 1. Jill Metz, president of the ACLU of Illinois' board of directors, released a statement saying, "Today is an historic and proud day for Illinois. The Illinois General Assembly, in a step toward basic fairness, recognized the essential dignity of gay and lesbian relationships in our state by authorizing civil unions. We urge Governor Quinn to sign swiftly this historic legislation into law."
Evan Wolfson, executive director of the pro-LGBT organization Freedom to Marry, said, "Today, Illinois took an important step forward in providing a measure of protections to same-sex couples and their familiesprotections of particular importance in these tough economic times. With this step in the right direction, Illinois rejected arguments against fair treatment for gay people and their loved ones and acknowledged that gay couples and families exist and have the same hopes and needs as other families."
However, he added, "While a welcome step, civil union is no substitute for the full measure of respect, clarity, security, responsibilities, and protection of marriage itself. States that have created civil union as a means of both giving and withholdingproviding legal protections while withholding the freedom to marry and all its meaninghave found that civil union falls far short of marriage with all its tangible and intangible significance in our lives.
LGBT Change thanked several individuals for the bill's passage, including state Sens. David Koehler and Heather Steans, state Reps. Greg Harris, Sara Feigenholtz, Deb Mell and Harry Osterman. Jacob Meister, a former U.S. Senate candidate who leads the Civil Rights Agenda ( which has been working with LGBT Change ) , said, "We are finally on the bus in Illinois. We may be sitting in the back, but we finally made it on the bus."
The Illinois House approved the measure the previous day by a vote of 61-52, with one vote to spare.
Before the vote, Harris urged colleagues to help make history: "We have a chance today to make Illinois a more fair state, a more just state, and a state which treats all of its citizens equally under the law. We have a chance here, as leaders have had in previous generations, to correct injustice and to move us down the path toward liberty."
According to the Chicago Tribune, Mell ( who plans to marry fiancee Christin Baker in Iowa next year ) tearfully urged her fellow legislators to pass the bill: "If God forbid something happens to Christin, and she cannot make a decision, by law the doctor cannot ask me anything. I am not able to speak for her wishes. Under the law the doctor has to go to her family and I'm not considered family."