[{"@context":"https:\/\/schema.org\/","@type":"BlogPosting","@id":"https:\/\/equallywed.com\/illinois-governor-to-sign-historic-civil-unions-legislation\/#BlogPosting","mainEntityOfPage":"https:\/\/equallywed.com\/illinois-governor-to-sign-historic-civil-unions-legislation\/","headline":"Illinois Governor to Sign Historic Civil Unions Legislation","name":"Illinois Governor to Sign Historic Civil Unions Legislation","description":"By Karen Hawkins, Associated Press CHICAGO (AP) \u2014 A capacity crowd at a historic downtown Chicago venue? No, it isn’t a concert or even the...","datePublished":"2011-01-31","dateModified":"2021-06-21","author":{"@type":"Person","@id":"https:\/\/equallywed.com\/author\/admin\/#Person","name":"Equally Wed","url":"https:\/\/equallywed.com\/author\/admin\/","identifier":787,"image":{"@type":"ImageObject","@id":"https:\/\/secure.gravatar.com\/avatar\/ca62cf123aaaf135c80b055249bacbda79de9226e11cdfcde6529bedf89683de?s=96&r=g","url":"https:\/\/secure.gravatar.com\/avatar\/ca62cf123aaaf135c80b055249bacbda79de9226e11cdfcde6529bedf89683de?s=96&r=g","height":96,"width":96}},"publisher":{"@type":"Organization","name":"Equally Wed","logo":{"@type":"ImageObject","@id":"http:\/\/equallywed.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/08\/equally-wed-lgbtq-weddings-logo.jpg","url":"http:\/\/equallywed.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/08\/equally-wed-lgbtq-weddings-logo.jpg","width":218,"height":60}},"image":{"@type":"ImageObject","@id":"http:\/\/equallywed.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/08\/equally-wed-lgbtq-weddings-logo.jpg","url":"http:\/\/equallywed.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/08\/equally-wed-lgbtq-weddings-logo.jpg","width":218,"height":60},"url":"https:\/\/equallywed.com\/illinois-governor-to-sign-historic-civil-unions-legislation\/","about":["Marriage Equality News"],"wordCount":463,"articleBody":" By Karen Hawkins, Associated PressCHICAGO (AP) \u2014 A capacity crowd at a historic downtown Chicago venue?  No, it isn’t a concert or even the big game \u2014 it’s to watch civil unions  become legal in Illinois. When Gov. Pat Quinn signs the historic legislation Monday afternoon, he’ll be joined by up  to 900 members of the gay community and their supporters, many of whom  have been waiting years for this moment to arrive. Free tickets to the bill-signing event were long gone by late last week,  and the governor’s office planned to set aside a portion of the space  at the Chicago Cultural Center as standing-room only. After Quinn signs the measure sent to him by legislators  in December, gay and lesbian couples will be afforded official  recognition from the state and gain many of the rights that accompany  marriage \u2014 for instance, the power to decide medical treatment for an  ailing partner and the right to inherit a partner’s property. But  Illinois law will continue to limit marriage to one man and one woman,  and civil unions still are not recognized by the federal government. Supporters presented the civil unions legislation as a  matter of basic fairness for all Illinois residents, but opponents  argued that it moves Illinois closer to legalizing same-sex marriages  and could impose unwanted requirements on religious institutions and  their programs. Among the opponents were Catholic leaders and  conservative groups. The legislation passed 61-52 in the Illinois House and 32-24 in the Senate. Quinn has repeatedly said the new law will help the  Illinois economy by making the state more hospitable to businesses and  convention organizers looking for a place to spend their dollars. “I think they look for a state that is a welcoming,  accepting, hospitable place and that’s what we are in Illinois. We have  everybody in and nobody left out,” Quinn said last month. Dalila Fridi, board member for gay rights group Equality  Illinois, said she’s excited to see civil unions become a reality after  years of traveling to Springfield to lobby legislators. She said the bill is important to her because her  immigration to America from Algeria “was all about rights.” “When I found out that people here don’t have that right, I was like, ‘What do you mean? It’s America,'” she said. Five states already allow civil unions or their equivalent, according to the Human Rights Campaign.  Five other states and Washington, D.C., let gay couples marry outright,  as do countries including Canada, South Africa and the Netherlands. Some hope civil unions will be a step toward full  marriage. That includes longtime community activist Vernita Gray, who  says she’ll accept civil unions \u2014 for now. “That’s the crumbs,” she said. “I want the whole pie.”"},{"@context":"https:\/\/schema.org\/","@type":"BreadcrumbList","itemListElement":[{"@type":"ListItem","position":1,"name":"Illinois Governor to Sign Historic Civil Unions Legislation","item":"https:\/\/equallywed.com\/illinois-governor-to-sign-historic-civil-unions-legislation\/#breadcrumbitem"}]}]