So the Illinois House and Senate have passed a bill approving civil unions, and Governor Pat Quinn has said he would sign it into law. It’s still sitting in the back of the bus, but I suppose we should be thankful they’re even letting us on the bus. This is a step in the right direction.
My favorite commentary on the Senate debate came from one of the commentors at capitolfax.com, who summarized the statements in favor of civil unions by Sen. Ricky Hendon (D-Looneyville):
Talked about his favorite uncle, who was straight, but didn’t want to marry for a 3rd or 4th time (can’t remember). Then went on to say he hates politics, and hates seeing people who are adulterers, on the down-low, etc., speak against civil unions. He supports the bill not because other politicians called him to ask for his support, but because it’s the right thing to do. He said it won’t wreck the state, like it hasn’t wrecked other states who have civil unions or more. And he said voting for it won’t send him to hell, and it won’t send anyone to hell.
Now take that summary and make it sound crazy. That’s about the gist of it.
One way or another, though, this is something to celebrate. It will be interesting to see the full list of rights and benefits assigned to those in civil unions, and when it will be implemented. We will definitely sign up, but only with the knowledge that this is a stopgap en route to full and equal marriage.
I thought of you and Takaza first when I heard about the bill passing. You guys are sort of my mental model of gay marriage, a suburban couple who happen to be both men.
I don’t really have a personal stake in this, and it’s not likely it will directly affect me. I can totally respect your wish that they had called it Marriage, but I fear that could have prevented the bill from passing at all.
I’m still pretty enthused. What does it all mean? Well, there’s a lot of stuff said in the papers, so I made it my business to go read the actual bill, and in my humble non-lawyerly opinion, I’m impressed.
Under this bill, as far as Illinois is concerned, you guys are married, except for the M-word (section 5). If there’s an Illinois law (regulation, policy, etc.) that applies to married couples, it applies to you (section 20). Your out-of-state marriage is recognized as a civil union in Illinois (section 60). The words are in there. You have my congratulations on your civil union!
Under a civil union, a gay couple could (heavens forbid!) get a divorce under the Illinois Dissolution of Marriage Act (a piece of law I know more of than I wish to) (section 45). That’s pretty much like being married.
Absent a date in the bill, I’m guessing the act becomes effective on June 1, 2011 according to section 10 of Article IV of the Illinois Constitution.
Religious groups are so hung up on the word Marriage, I wish it could get unhooked from the language of the state. I don’t like the idea that there’s the idea of a second-class civil union behind a first class marriage, and any issues of “sanctity” seem to belong somewhere else other than in law. Give the M-word to the various churches, and civilly unify anybody who wants to, equally, and give them the same rights and status under law. In my opinion.
Still, it’s steps. And for once, I can be proud of my state government.
I support the idea mainly because I don’t feel a man of the cloth should feel obligated to have to do something that he feels is against his religious principles.
If that is the only difference, I am fine with civil union (domestic partnership) but it needs to carry with it the recognized term for spouse, that way organizations and the government can’t beat the system by saying that spouses count but not partners or some other Bull Monkey.
let me comment further by saying I support the idea of a man of cloth not having to do the ceremony.
I do feel though that the certificate type to sign should be the same one. If people wish to consider it a civil union because the ceremony took place in front of a justice of the peace thats their prejudice, however the documentation for legal purposes is whats important.