It’s not marriage, but the Illinois House of Representatives took an important step forward today toward equality. SB1716, the “Illinois Religious Freedom Protection and Civil Union Act,” passed the chamber 61-52. Despite massive Republican opposition (including that of Rep. Ron Stephens, who blamed “open homosexuality” for the fall of Rome), two Republicans joined 59 Democrats in supporting the legislation. It now heads to the Senate, where it is expected to pass quickly (the bill was voted out of committee today by a 6-2 vote). Then it will go to the desk of Governor Pat Quinn, who has promised to sign it. If all goes well, civil unions will be a reality in Illinois starting in July 2011.
The civil unions created by the bill will for the first time give legal recognition to same-sex couples in Illinois, bestowing some of the benefits available to married couples. It won’t provide all of the benefits, obviously, but the rights that it does provide are significant: the right to visit a sick partner in the hospital, the right to make important decisions about a partner’s medical care, and the disposition of a deceased partner’s remains. Civil unions will be available to both same-sex partners and opposite-sex partners who are not married, not related, and at least 18 years old.
The passage of the bill was a blow to the National Organization for Marriage, which fought vehemently against civil unions, urging its members to tell their representatives to oppose the legislation. (Sorry, NOM, didn't work this time.)
The bill was cosponsored by openly gay Rep. Greg Harris, who made the following remarks before the historic vote on the House floor:
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.
He went on to say that “Those who stood for justice, for fairness, have been remembered by history as great leaders. They've been remembered by history as being on the right side of justice. Each of us has the chance to be remembered on the right side of justice.” He also referenced his predecessor in the 13th District, openly gay Rep. Larry McKeon, who was denied by a hospital from staying by his dying partner’s bedside in his last moments:
He missed the passing of his life partner by mere minutes. Mere minutes. Should any person have to be absent because they don't have access to the proper paperwork? Should this not be a right that every person in Illinois be granted?
And the answer that the House gave to the last question was a resounding YES!
Another moving speech was made by Rep. Deb Mell, an open lesbian who is engaged to her partner:
I love my state. I am proud to live here. But my state does not treat me equally...After six years of building a life together, committing our lives to each other, I assure you that we are a family.
Again, it’s not marriage, and obviously civil unions are no adequate substitution. But this is a very important first step toward full equality of and respect for same-sex couples. And in the meantime same-sex couples in committed relationships will have some very basic (yet very important) rights, rights that shouldn’t have to be passed by a state legislature – but we’re certainly glad they did. If this bill is signed, it will mean a very real, tangible improvement to the situation same-sex couples in Illinois now face.
Now, all eyes on the Senate.