Chicago Free Press Editorial - Help Make History
Chicago Free Press Editorial - Help Make History
Copyright by The Chicago Free Press
March 14, 2007
It’s shocking, really, that we could get civil unions in Illinois this year.
Who would have thought five years ago, even one year ago, that we could be talking about the Illinois legislature being comfortable enough with gay and lesbian rights to pass civil unions?
It’s amazing progress, even if it is not what we ultimately want, which is full marriage equality.
That said, there are good reasons why we should all do everything that we can to support our community leaders in getting a civil unions bill passed this spring.
First and foremost, if we can’t get marriage equality yet, civil unions mean real benefits for gay and lesbians families. With civil unions, those families would no longer have to worry about such things as hospital visitation rights, about being able to make medical decisions for each other, about health insurance benefits for partners and children, inheritance and a long list of other rights and privileges granted to married couples.
Ask those families if civil unions are better than nothing at all and the odds are you’ll get a quick affirmative response.
Civil unions also take us closer to full marriage equality. In Canada, gay and lesbian couples got civil unions first in some [arts of the country before Canada's highest court ruled that they deserved marriage equality. Most judges aren’t stupid—they can see what’s going on when you create parallel systems that attempt to give two groups of people the same legal standing while maintaining that it’s not. “Separate but equal” was struck down for that reason.
We will get marriage equality, and probably sooner than later. It may be that many states pass civil unions, as appears likely to happen soon, the U. S. Supreme Court will eventually be persuaded to resolve the whole thing with a common-sense ruling that puts an end to marriage inequality for us. Or for that matter, the anti-gay political forces, which appear to be losing power at a suddenly precipitous rate, may lose the ability to stop moves for marriages in Congress.
For now, anyway, we shouldn’t reject civil unions while we continue to work for marriage equality. While it is certainly not the end of our community’s quest for equal rights, it is progress.
It would also be a victory of significant proportions to have it pass in the Illinois legislature, right here in the heart of the country. Make no mistake—that would be a huge blow for the anti-gay charlatans, a far greater loss than a civil unions bill in a state such as New York or California.
So, yes, keep working for marriage equality, but pitch in for civil unions too. Write and call your state representatives and state senators this week—today—and urge them to vote yes on civil unions. Your voice is critical.
While you are at it, call state Representative Greg Harris’ office and pledge your support for his efforts to push both civil unions and marriage equality. And call Equality Illinois at 773-477-7173 and ask how you can help. They can also give you contact information for your legislators and talking points to use when you contact them.
This really matters, folks. We can make history right now. Being able one day to say you were part of this is the kind of stuff that gives “Pride” real meaning.
Copyright by The Chicago Free Press
March 14, 2007
It’s shocking, really, that we could get civil unions in Illinois this year.
Who would have thought five years ago, even one year ago, that we could be talking about the Illinois legislature being comfortable enough with gay and lesbian rights to pass civil unions?
It’s amazing progress, even if it is not what we ultimately want, which is full marriage equality.
That said, there are good reasons why we should all do everything that we can to support our community leaders in getting a civil unions bill passed this spring.
First and foremost, if we can’t get marriage equality yet, civil unions mean real benefits for gay and lesbians families. With civil unions, those families would no longer have to worry about such things as hospital visitation rights, about being able to make medical decisions for each other, about health insurance benefits for partners and children, inheritance and a long list of other rights and privileges granted to married couples.
Ask those families if civil unions are better than nothing at all and the odds are you’ll get a quick affirmative response.
Civil unions also take us closer to full marriage equality. In Canada, gay and lesbian couples got civil unions first in some [arts of the country before Canada's highest court ruled that they deserved marriage equality. Most judges aren’t stupid—they can see what’s going on when you create parallel systems that attempt to give two groups of people the same legal standing while maintaining that it’s not. “Separate but equal” was struck down for that reason.
We will get marriage equality, and probably sooner than later. It may be that many states pass civil unions, as appears likely to happen soon, the U. S. Supreme Court will eventually be persuaded to resolve the whole thing with a common-sense ruling that puts an end to marriage inequality for us. Or for that matter, the anti-gay political forces, which appear to be losing power at a suddenly precipitous rate, may lose the ability to stop moves for marriages in Congress.
For now, anyway, we shouldn’t reject civil unions while we continue to work for marriage equality. While it is certainly not the end of our community’s quest for equal rights, it is progress.
It would also be a victory of significant proportions to have it pass in the Illinois legislature, right here in the heart of the country. Make no mistake—that would be a huge blow for the anti-gay charlatans, a far greater loss than a civil unions bill in a state such as New York or California.
So, yes, keep working for marriage equality, but pitch in for civil unions too. Write and call your state representatives and state senators this week—today—and urge them to vote yes on civil unions. Your voice is critical.
While you are at it, call state Representative Greg Harris’ office and pledge your support for his efforts to push both civil unions and marriage equality. And call Equality Illinois at 773-477-7173 and ask how you can help. They can also give you contact information for your legislators and talking points to use when you contact them.
This really matters, folks. We can make history right now. Being able one day to say you were part of this is the kind of stuff that gives “Pride” real meaning.
posted by Carlos T Mock at 9:42 AM
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