Even though I always say that a committee vote doesn’t mean much, it’s still kind of surprising that this bill passed a committee on the first try…
A plan to recognize civil unions for same-sex couples narrowly advanced out of a House committee Wednesday despite opposition from faith-based organizations.
By a 5-4 vote, members of the House Human Services committee approved a bill that would give same-sex couples the protections married couples enjoy, including hospital visitation rights, child custody and survivor benefits.
“It’s a question of equality,” state Rep. Greg Harris (D-Chicago), the bill’s sponsor, said. The civil union bill is Harris’ second attempt at giving gay couples legal rights.
Harris, who is the only openly gay state lawmaker, said he intends to call the bill for a vote by the full House floor this spring. His proposal needs the approval of the House, the Senate and Gov. Blagojevich before it becomes law.
The bill faces an uncertain future, as many Republicans, family organizations and faith-based groups are promising a fight. “Government shouldn’t recognize a lifestyle that’s been considered immoral,” said David Smith, the executive director of the Illinois Family Institute.
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“It was clear the time is not now for marriage,” said Rep. Greg Harris (D-Chicago), the sponsor of the civil-union and gay-marriage proposals. “When it will come back, I don’t know. Clearly the appetite of this legislature is not to have that discussion.”
But some lawmakers opposed the civil-union legislation, approved 5-4 in the Human Services Committee, saying it draws little distinction from traditional marriage.
“There is a fine line, and I think Rep. Harris crossed it,” said Rep. Mary Flowers (D-Chicago), who opposed the bill in committee. “I think what he did is make this, indirectly, same-sex marriage but called it something else. … Marriage is between a man and a woman.”
The civil-union legislation follows a gay-rights victory two years ago when the General Assembly passed legislation that prohibited discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation in employment and housing. But that measure took several years of effort to pass, and the civil-union legislation clearly will meet strong resistance.
Four other states currently recognize some form of same-sex unions. The proposal wouldn’t allow gay couples to file taxes jointly, but would give them marital state tax deductions.