With a unanimous vote by the Village Board on a resolution this week, Oak Park became the first municipality to support pending legislation that would establish civil unions for same-sex couples in Illinois.

House Bill 1826, known as the Religious Freedom and Civil Unions Act, would establish civil unions for same-sex couples, allowing them access to pension and insurance benefits, inheritance rights and to have legal standing to make medical decisions for their partner.

Oak Park has a long tradition of supporting gays and lesbians. Since 1994 the village has extended health benefits to the same-sex partners of village employees. The village established a domestic partner registry 10 years ago, said Village Clerk Sandra Sokol.

If passed, the House bill would affect state benefits, not federal.

Establishing civil unions would be a step in the right direction, said Oak Park Trustee Ray Johnson, who has been active for many years in the Oak Park Area Lesbian and Gay Association.

"This [bill] doesn't go far enough. It's a small first step, but it's an important one," Johnson said.

Introduced by state Rep. Greg Harris (D-Chicago) in February, the measure passed the House Human Services Committee with a 5-4 vote this spring. It now awaits a vote by the House.

Peter LaBarbera, president of Naperville-based Americans for Truth, said it does not have enough support to pass.

Online: http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/local/chi-web_opcivil_18jul18,1,817712.story?coll=chi-news-hed.