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Illinois: Mayor Rahm Emanuel Will Push for Gay Marriage

Wednesday, February 15th, 2012

Illinois Marriage EqualityWhile Illinois Gov. Pat Quinn (D) is not sure if he supports marriage equality, Chicago mayor and former Obama Chief of Staff Rahm Emanuel promised to advocate for legislation legalizing same-sex marriage in the state.

“I’ll push for it because it is consistent with the values base, and the practical values base, that I think is right as a city, as a state and as a country,” he said.

“If you have two loving adults, that should actually be held up as a positive, whether it’s male or female, but in this case female-female, male-male. I think that’s proper, and we shouldn’t as a state discriminate.” Illinois recently enacted civil unions.

Full Story from Think Progress

Click here for gay wedding resources in Illinois.

IL: Marriage Equality Advocates Picket Catholic Church

Sunday, February 12th, 2012

As bundled-up parishioners hurried in and out of Holy Name Cathedral on Sunday, gay rights advocates marched on the sidewalk, criticizing Cardinal Francis George and speaking optimistically about a same-sex marriage bill introduced last week at the Illinois Statehouse.

The sidewalk outside the downtown church is popular territory for protests, but some participants said they felt special hope because of victories in two other states and the introduction of the same-sex marriage bill in Springfield on Wednesday. Washington state lawmakers approved a gay marriage bill Wednesday, and appeals judges struck down California’s same-sex marriage ban Tuesday.

“We’ve got momentum on our side,” said Andy Thayer, co-founder of the Gay Liberation Network.

Full Story from the Chicago Tribune

Click here for gay wedding resources in Illinois.

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IL: Couples in Civil Unions Face Tax Hassles

Saturday, February 11th, 2012

Illinois Civil Unions and TaxesIllinois same-sex couples in civil unions are discovering an unpleasant quirk of their new status. The state of Illinois will make them do their federal taxes twice. Illinois’ civil union boosts drudgery at tax time, and it probably won’t save same-sex couples any money.

Here’s why: Illinois law requires that same-sex couples in civil unions be treated as if they were married for tax purposes.

The state income tax form requires that they transfer numbers from their federal income tax form. To produce the proper numbers, civil union couples must fill out a federal tax form as either married filing jointly or married filing separately, and submit it with their state forms.

Full Story from STL Today

Click here for gay wedding resources in Illinois.

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IL: Man Sues to Overturn Springfield Health Benefits Decision

Sunday, January 15th, 2012

Springfield, IL Health Benefits and Civil UnionsA lawsuit has been filed by Bruce Rushton, a reporter for the Illinois Times, claiming that the Springfield Joint Labor/Management Health Care Committee voted to grant health benefits to couples in civil unions. Rushton claims that the Committee violated the Open Meetings Act. He hopes to have the decision by the committee declared void.

The Civil Rights Agenda stated in a press release:

The Civil Rights Agenda is currently working with members of the Springfield City Council and other allies to determine the best course of action. The Civil Rights Agenda’s Legal Council confirms that the Committee meeting, held in private with no notice to the public, could in fact be a violation of the Open Meetings Act. While it is unfortunate that this may impede the enforcement of civil union health benefits that should be granted to Springfield city employees, The Civil Rights Agenda must address the larger issues of freedom of speech, freedom of the press, and access to decision-making bodies acting on behalf of the public, which is addressed under the Open Meetings Act.

Full Story from Lez Get Real

Click here for gay wedding resources in Illinois.

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IL: Springfield Reverses Earlier Decision, Will Provide Health Benefits to Civil Union Partners

Wednesday, January 11th, 2012

Springfield, IL Health Benefits and Civil UnionsThe City of Springfield decided Tuesday to reverse an earlier ruling and voted unanimously to extend benefits for city employees in a civil union.

The Springfield Joint Labor and Management Insurance Committee, which has sole decision making power on matters concerning the city of Springfield’s insurance plan, initially decided to deny benefits to couples in a civil union based on financial concerns.

The Civil Rights Agenda (TCRA) worked with multiple city council members, other interested parties and citizens to ensure that the committee reversed its discriminatory decision.

Full Story from Chicago Pride

Click here for gay wedding resources in Illinois.

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Illinois Next for Marriage Equality?

Monday, January 9th, 2012

Springfield, IL Health Benefits and Civil UnionsA group of Illinois legislators has started meeting with local LGBT groups to strategize on making marriage equality a reality in Illinois.

State representatives Greg Harris, Deb Mell, Ann Williams, Kelly Cassidy, Sara Feigenholtz and Senator Heather Steans are in talks with Illinois organizations about introducing a bill that would allow same-sex partners to marry in Illinois.

According to Harris, the bill will not likely be introduced until at least 2013. Harris believes the fight will be difficult, especially as anti-gay political candidates work to bolster support for upcoming presidential elections.

Full Story from Windy City

Click here for gay wedding resources in Illinois.

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IL: Springfield Civil Union Cost Estimate Revised

Monday, January 9th, 2012

Springfield, IL Health Benefits and Civil UnionsA St. Louis-based actuary says he is revising his estimate that providing benefits to spouses of employees in civil unions would cost the city of Springfield an extra $725,000 a year.

The revision comes as the city’s Joint Labor/Management Health Care Committee on Tuesday is scheduled to reconsider its 10-0 decision not to provide the benefits.

The actuary’s estimate has been questioned by Mayor Mike Houston, who has said he believes the city, which is self-insured, can offer the coverage without a significant increase in premiums.

Full Story from the State Journal-Register

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IL: Springfield Committee to Reconsider Health Coverage After Mayor Announces Support

Thursday, January 5th, 2012

Springfield, IL Health Benefits and Civil UnionsSpringfield Mayor Michael Houston announced his support for providing health insurance benefits for partners of employees in civil unions at a news conference on Tuesday, Jan. 3.

Mayor Houston’s decision comes as a response to a vote on Dec. 20 by the Joint Labor/Management Healthcare Committee, which voted 10-0 (Ward 1 Ald. Frank Edwards and Ward 9 Ald. Steve Dove were absent) to not provide spousal benefits to city employees who have entered into civil unions. The committee’s decision is largely based on an actuarial estimate of an additional $725,000 in premiums that the city would have to pay for spouses of employees in civil unions.

The city of Springfield is self-insured, a right which is granted by the Illinois Municipal Code. Since its creation in 2002, the committee has acted as the controlling and policy-making body for Springfield’s employee health insurance coverage.

Full Story from The Illinois Times

Click here for gay wedding resources in Illinois.

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IL: Straight Couples Showing Solidarity With Gay Friends By Getting Civil Unions

Wednesday, December 21st, 2011

Illinois Civil UnionsLisa Berube, 27, and her spouse Matt Churilla, 29, opted for a civil union license when they said “I do” at Chicago City Hall this year in a show of “solidarity” with gay couples across Illinois who aren’t legally allowed to get married.

“Part of the reason we chose a civil union over a marriage or over a marriage license was to show solidarity,” Berube said. “It was important for us to be able to define family relationships on our own terms. Marriage didn’t do that for us. Marriage seemed more exclusionary.”

Berube and Churilla, who live in Chicago’s Logan Square neighborhood, are among a small fraction of opposite sex couples who obtained civil union licenses in Cook County when the new statewide law allowing civil unions kicked in June 1. County Clerk David Orr’s office, which issues marriage and civil union licenses, launched a survey in September to find out why the couples – who can legally get married – opted for civil unions.

Full Story from the Sun Times

Click here for gay wedding resources in Illinois.

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Rhode Island, Illinois Civil Unions Laws See Very Different Results

Friday, December 9th, 2011

Rhode Island and Illinois Civil Union LawsCivil unions may be slow to catch on in Rhode Island, but gay and lesbian couples in Illinois are obtaining them in great numbers.

An Illinois gay marriage advocacy group, Equality Illinois, says its study of county records in that state shows more than 3,700 couples have gotten civil union licenses since that state began offering the option June 1.

In Rhode Island, only 39 couples had obtained licenses as of last month. State lawmakers in the Ocean State approved civil unions in July after legislation to authorize gay marriage fizzled.

Full Story from WAND TV

Click here for gay wedding resources in Illinois.

Click here for gay wedding resources in Rhode Island.

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