OAK PARK TO CONSIDER CIVIL UNIONS BILL
OAK PARK TO CONSIDER CIVIL UNIONS BILL
OAK PARK - The Oak Park Village Board of Trustees is scheduled to consider a resolution supporting a bill before the Illinois General Assembly that will give same-sex couples some of the rights and privileges of marriage.
The Oak Park resolution calls on the Illinois Legislature to pass House Bill 1826 - the Illinois Religious Freedom and Civil Union Act. The bill currently before the Illinois House of Representatives would give legal recognition to same sex couples and grant them some of the rights of marriage - such as health and pension benefits, inheritance rights and medical decision making.
"Oak Park has always been a leader in recognizing and protecting gay and lesbian citizens," said Rick Garcia, director of public policy of Equality Illinois. "We are heartened that the Village Board recognizes that this is a matter of fairness and wishes to publicly show their support."
The village board will consider the resolution at its July 16 board meeting.
If the bill passes, Illinois will join California, Connecticut, New Hampshire, New Jersey, Oregon and Vermont in the establishment of civil union law. Massachusetts is the only state in the union that recognizes same-sex marriage.
HB 1826 does not amend the Illinois marriage code and does not force religious institutions to solemnize or validate civil unions. It also does not provide any of the over 1,000 federal benefits of marriage to same sex couples.
OAK PARK - The Oak Park Village Board of Trustees is scheduled to consider a resolution supporting a bill before the Illinois General Assembly that will give same-sex couples some of the rights and privileges of marriage.
The Oak Park resolution calls on the Illinois Legislature to pass House Bill 1826 - the Illinois Religious Freedom and Civil Union Act. The bill currently before the Illinois House of Representatives would give legal recognition to same sex couples and grant them some of the rights of marriage - such as health and pension benefits, inheritance rights and medical decision making.
"Oak Park has always been a leader in recognizing and protecting gay and lesbian citizens," said Rick Garcia, director of public policy of Equality Illinois. "We are heartened that the Village Board recognizes that this is a matter of fairness and wishes to publicly show their support."
The village board will consider the resolution at its July 16 board meeting.
If the bill passes, Illinois will join California, Connecticut, New Hampshire, New Jersey, Oregon and Vermont in the establishment of civil union law. Massachusetts is the only state in the union that recognizes same-sex marriage.
HB 1826 does not amend the Illinois marriage code and does not force religious institutions to solemnize or validate civil unions. It also does not provide any of the over 1,000 federal benefits of marriage to same sex couples.
posted by Carlos T Mock at 11:10 AM
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