http://www.365gay.com/news/illinois-civil-union-bill-advances/

05.27.2009 9:50am EDT

(Springfield, Illinois) A bill giving gay couples the right to form civil unions in Illinois is moving closer to a vote on the House floor, but time is running out.

The bill was approved by a House committee on Tuesday as the California Supreme Court released its ruling upholding a voter-approved ban on same-sex marriage.

The Illinois legislation, 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."


The most vocal opposition?  Again, religious groups. 

Repeat after me, "Separation of church and state.  Separation of church and state." 

Julie

Interesting.

I read the 365Gay article and also received a note from HRC prompting me to call my rep and stress my support for the "Religious Freedom and Marriage Fairness Act", HB178.  Which, by the way, is a CIVIL MARRIAGE bill the way I read it (woo-hoo!).  I.E. you can refer to your partner as a spouse, immediate family and all the rest.

I did call my rep and left a message.

However I am unable to find any information about HB178 that shows it has moved out of committee.  The last status update was on 3/19 when it was referred there for a re-reading.

I see no information that it will be coming up for a vote anytime soon from either the Illinois government website, nor do any of the local newrags say anything about it.

If anyone knows of anything new, let me know!  I'd really like to get married to Pat here in our home state than go to Iowa, but whatever.

-Sandy