Help our effort to extend basic legal protections and responsibilities of marriage to same sex couples by supporting the creation and recognition of a civil union in Illinois! Contact your state representative today to support the Illinois Religious Freedom Protection and Civil Union Act (House Bill 1826). You can send a free fax to your state representative by going to https://secure.aclu.org/site/Advocacy?pagename=homepage&id=587&page=UserAction.

Randy W. of Springfield is a veteran of the U.S. Army. Despite his service to our nation, he is denied many of the benefits that others already enjoy only because he is gay.

This reality became clear a few years ago when Randy's life partner Curt was admitted to a Springfield hospital with an illness that would take his life. Randy was denied the ability to spend the night in the hospital alongside Curt - a privilege commonly granted spouses - and was not notified by the hospital when Curt's condition took a turn for the worse. As a result, Randy nearly missed saying goodbye to his life partner as Curt took his final breaths.

Randy's story, tragically, is not unique. Our lesbian and gay neighbors, colleagues, family members and friends are denied hundreds of protections and responsibilities offered through the state's legal recognition of marriage.

Contact your state representative today to support the Illinois Religious Freedom Protection and Civil Union Act (House Bill 1826). You can send a free fax to your state representative by going to https://secure.aclu.org/site/Advocacy?pagename=homepage&id=587&page=UserAction.

State Representative Greg Harris recently proposed legislation extending the rights of marriage to same sex couples. After discussions with members of the House - who indicate support for offering the legal protections and responsibilities of marriage, but resist changing Illinois' marriage laws - Representative Harris proposed House Bill 1826, the Illinois Religious Freedom Protection and Civil Union Act, to ensure the necessary legal protections to protect lesbian and gay partners and their families.

The Illinois Religious Freedom Protection and Civil Union Act extends all the legal protections and responsibilities of marriage to committed couples who enter into a civil union. These protections include: the right to participate in medical decision-making; the ability to control the disposition of a deceased partner's remains; spousal coverage in pensions; the right to share a nursing home room; and, the right to sue for the wrongful death of a partner. In addition, the legislation extends every state benefit offered to married couples to those who enter a civil union.

In short, House Bill 1826 fairness and offers certainty and security to thousands of gay and lesbian couples and their children in Illinois .

Contact your state representative today to support the Illinois Religious Freedom Protection and Civil Union Act (House Bill 1826). You can send a free fax to your state representative by going to https://secure.aclu.org/site/Advocacy?pagename=homepage&id=587&page=UserAction.