The Civil Union Bill will not end our work in securing the state’s promise of equality, but it does help reduce the harms done to same-sex couples, seniors and their families. Our goal is to ensure that lifetime commitments between all couples are afforded the respect and dignity to which they are entitled.

The Illinois Religious Freedom Protection and Civil Union act will give some of the rights and responsibilities to same-sex, opposite sex and senior couples that have previously only been afforded to couples in in civil marriages. These rights include:

      Medical decision-making & hospital visitation for partners

      Right to make funeral arrangements and control disposition of remains

      Inheritance rights

      Domestic violence protections

The Civil Union Bill WILL NOT:

      Amend the Illinois Marriage Code to recognize same-sex marriage

      Force religious institutions to solemnize or validate civil unions

      Provide any of the more than 1,000 federal benefits of marriage to these couples