Ill. issues civil union licenses to gay couples

[w8liftinglady]

http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/nationworld/2015199756_apuscivilunionsillinois.html

Illinois has begun giving out licenses to couples who want to form a civil union.

Hundreds of couples lined up early Wednesday to get licenses as the state's new law went into effect. It allows gay and lesbian or straight couples to form civil unions, a rough equivalent to marriage.

Civil unions give couples many of the rights that accompany traditional marriage. That includes the power to decide medical treatment for an ailing partner and the right to inherit a partner's property.

The first civil union ceremonies can't take place until Thursday.

Cook County Clerk David Orr says it will be "a joyous day for all couples, gay and straight, who want to make history."

[cate94]

1. We are picking up

our license this afternoon. :)

[pinto]

2. Civil Unions Start for Illinois Gays (Advocate)

Couples lined up at courthouses across Illinois Wednesday as civil unions became available for gay and lesbian couples for the first time in the state.

Lakeesha Harris and Janean Watkins were the first in line at the Cook County Clerk's office. They were one of about 75 couples waiting at the downtown Chicago building, where 2,000 licenses are expected to be issued Wednesday, officials told the Chicago Sun-Times.

“We’ve been ostracized and relegated to the bottom rung of society,” Harris said in the article. “I feel like this is some sort of justice for us, for our family. I’m so grateful. I’m thankful.”

Shiloh, Ill. resident Sarah Baldwin is entering a civil union with her partner Heather Sowell. They were among six couples waiting to receive their civil union licenses when the courthouse opened, according to theSt. Louis Post-Dispatch.

http://www.advocate.com/News/Daily_News/2011/06/01/Civil_Unions_Start_for_Illinois_Gays/

[Glassunion]

3. Question

I'm ignorant on this particular law in Illinois. The article states: "Civil unions give couples many of the rights that accompany traditional marriage." To me this implies that there are rights they are not given. Are there some rights that members of a hetero marriage have that a same-sex marriage(civil-union) do not?

[laconicsax]

4. Almost always.

Civil unions are the separate-but-equal counterpart to civil marriage, and as everyone knows, separate-but-equal is inherently unequal.

[Glassunion]

5. What do you mean? We are all equal... Just some of us more so than others.

I am seeking the particulars, but my Google-Fu is weak today.

[laconicsax]

6. Civil unions don't allow all of the legal rights of marriage.

Usually, when a couple gets civil unioned, they still have to fight to use the rights gained.

[Glassunion]

7. So basically this is just crumbs from the table.

Great.

[cate94]

8. In IL

civil unions will confer the same rights as marriage, with the very notable exception of federal rights. So, in IL we will be able to have hospital visitation, will be considered next of kin, will be able to receive pensions, sue for wrongful death of a my partner, etc.

Once we leave the state, none of those rights apply. And as I mentioned, federal laws never apply. So we will pay more in taxes. Pay inheritance tax on the house when one of us dies, etc.

Better than crumbs, but far from equal.