I live here so. Just sayin'.

[octobr]

http://www.nbcchicago.com/news/local/Illinois-Inches-Towards-Legal-Gay-Unions.html

Illinois legislators took the first step this week toward legalizing civil unions for same-sex couples.

The bill squeaked through a legislative committee in Springfield Wednesday.

The measure would not legalize same-sex marriages, but it would grant gay couples many of the benefits of marriage. They would have the right to visit their partners in hospitals, make medical decisions and more.

HB2234 creates the Religious Freedom Protection and Civil Union Act.

Rep. Deb Mell, who is gay, said 648 state laws -- on topics from inheritance to health care -- help married couples.

"I find it very strange that I can be elected to the General Assembly and vote on rules and laws, but these don't apply to me and my family," said Mell, D-Chicago. "We're not protected."

State Rep. Greg Harris, the chairperson of the committee and the sponsor of the measure, said in a statement published on the Windy City Media Web site that “this is legislation about fairness and establishing equal rights for everyone in our great state. At the heart of the debate over this bill is a fundamental question: Do the people that this bill applies to deserve the same rights as evreyone else? The answer is ‘absolutely.'”

Opponents argue that civil unions amount to gay marriage by another name.

The House Youth and Family Committee approved the bill by a 5-4 vote, according to the Associated Press. The Chicago Tribune reported the vote was 4-3.

It now heads to the House floor.

http://www.365gay.com/news/illinois-takes-up-gay-marriage-bill/

The bill is slated for discussion Tuesday in the Youth and Family Committee and a large number of gay and lesbian couples are expected to pack the committee room. But even Harris admits it will be tough to get the measure to a vote in the House.

Two years ago, a civil union bill introduced by Harris died when the session ended and conservative groups already have made it known they will fight the marriage bill. They’ve work to push for a state constitutional amendment to ban same-sex marriage they hope will make it to the ballot in 2010.

The marriage bill, officially called the Religious Freedom and Marriage Fairness Act would “provide eligible same-sex and opposite-sex couples with the same treatment as those in a civil marriage.”

“[T]he current marriage law is discriminatory and harms same-sex couples; and there is no compelling interest or rational basis to deny same-sex couples those benefits,” the bill’s description says.

The bill also makes it clear that no church would be required to perform or recognize same-sex marriages.

The legislation currently has four co-sponsors. Harris said that he hopes that even if the measure fails to gain traction this year, the debate will help advance it in the future.

In 2007 Harris’ civil union bill, called the Religious Freedom and Civil Union Act passed the House Human Services Committee but then languished until the session ended in January.

Haw shit yeah.


Just sayin.

 

[Dannichu]

:D!

 

[Jester]

''''''n
''''-||_
__/ • [[[[}
••••••[[[[}
__ •••[[[[}
....\__[[[[}

Badly drawn thumbs up lol.

 

[Valerunner]

Happy days.

 

[see ya]

Yay! Finally, my state does something not totally-fucked-up! :D

 

[Zora of Termina]

Yay! Finally, my state does something not totally-fucked-up! :D

*points up* This. Oh man Dad just read this over my shoulder and he was pissed.
That means it can only be good news :D

 

[Alexi]

Alright, go Illinois~

California, you can learn from them.

 

[Vladimir Putin's LJ]

Alright, go Illinois~

California, you can learn from them.

They actually had a hearing on Prop 8 yesterday or two days ago, and we'll know wether or not it's going to be repealed in ninety days.
Fingers crossed.

Anyway, great news! Any step forward is awesome, go Illinois! (though I'm fed up with fucking CHICAGO POLITICS who cares about Blagojevich anymore seriously)

 

[octobr]

They actually had a hearing on Prop 8 yesterday or two days ago, and we'll know wether or not it's going to be repealed in ninety days.
Fingers crossed.

Anyway, great news! Any step forward is awesome, go Illinois! (though I'm fed up with fucking CHICAGO POLITICS who cares about Blagojevich anymore seriously)

(l-o-fucking-l illinois politics. between blagojevich, burris, and blagojevich's hair we are like the corruptest peeps around)

 

[Spoon]

Yay! Finally, my state does something not totally-fucked-up! :D

Seconded, including the state part :D