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Illinois House Passes Civil Union Bill; Lambda Legal Celebrates and Urges Senate to Follow: Protect Same-sex Couples and Their Families

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"We thank the Illinois House for passing this historic bill. We are one step closer to bringing much needed protections to same-sex couples and their families."
November 30, 2010

"We now urge the Senate to vote for civil unions in Illinois."

(Chicago, IL, November 30, 2010)—The Illinois House of Representatives passed the civil union bill today, taking an important step toward providing needed legal protections for same-sex couples. Lambda Legal is celebrating this vote and urging the Illinois Senate to follow.

"We thank the Illinois House for passing this historic bill," said James L. Bennett, Regional Director of Lambda Legal's Midwest Regional Office in Chicago. "We are one step closer to bringing much needed protections to same-sex couples and their families. We now urge the Senate to vote for civil unions in Illinois."

Passed by 61-52 in the Illinois House, Lambda Legal congratulates and thanks the bill's sponsor in the House, Representative Greg Harris, along with Representatives Feigenholtz, Currie, Fritchey, Howard Osterman and Mell. To become law, the bill needs at least 30 votes in the Senate and the Governor's signature.

The Illinois Religious Freedom Protection and Civil Unions Act would better protect the state's committed same-sex couples and their families by providing a range of legal protections including hospital visitation and health care decision making rights. Presently, Illinois law does not recognize same-sex couples, leaving them and their children vulnerable.

In the United States, many jurisdictions provide some form of relationship recognition for same-sex couples either through marriage, civil union or domestic partnership laws. Same-sex couples can marry in Massachusetts; Connecticut; New Hampshire; Vermont; Washington, D.C., and next door in Iowa. Other states provide same-sex couples with legal rights through civil unions or domestic partnership laws.

An October 2010 poll by the Paul Simon Public Policy Institute of likely Illinois voters shows 67.5 percent approve of civil unions or marriage for same-sex couples. An August 2010 Newsweek poll shows that nationally, 55 percent support civil unions, showing a 15 percent increase since 2004.

"Passage of civil unions is urgent," says Chicago resident Angelica Lopez. "My partner and my daughter deserve legal recognition as my immediate family, and this cannot wait any longer."

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Contact Info

Contact: Erik Roldan; 312-663-4413 x359; eroldan@lambdalegal.org

Lambda Legal is a national organization committed to achieving full recognition of the civil rights of lesbians, gay men, bisexuals, transgender people and those with HIV through impact litigation, education and public policy work.

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