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March 2009 Archives Breaking News: Bill to Create Civil Unions in Illinois Clears House Committee March 5, 2009
House Bill 2234 extends inheritance rights, domestic violence protections and emergency medical decision-making rights to lesbian and gay male couples in Illinois who elect to enter into a civil union. The measure also restates existing constitutional protections for religious institutions and denominations across Illinois, clearly restating the right of any religious organization to determine those marriage ceremonies the denomination wishes to recognize or perform. "This is a matter of basic fairness," said Colleen K. Connell, executive director of the ACLU of Illinois. "Our friends, our neighbors, our colleagues and other gay and lesbian couples in our community are compelled to confront the challenges of this economy and life without the basic legal and economic protections offered by civil unions." "Lesbian and gay families struggle with the harsh reality of this economy, but with the extra burden of knowing that the State may not even recognize their relationship. We hope the State of Illinois can adopt this modest measure to provide these families a small measure of assistance," added Connell. "It's a step in the right direction to the full equality that can only be achieved by allowing lesbian and gay males to marry; but it is an important first step." TAKE ACTION NOW Tell your state representative to approve civil unions as a step on the road to full equality by visiting http://action.aclu.org/ilcivilunion. read more » ACLU of Illinois Joins National Effort to Fund Honest Sexual Health Education March 4, 2009  For many years, federal tax dollars have been used exclusively to fund inaccurate, flawed abstinence-only until marriage sexual health education programs in our public schools. These programs deny our public school students access to critical information that can assist them in making responsible, healthy and safe decisions when they become sexually active. Study after study shows that abstinence-only programs do not work, but the federal government has poured more than a billion dollars of taxpayer money into these programs to serve some politicians' ideological interests, not our public school students.The ACLU of Illinois is joining with other groups across the nation in calling on President Obama to zero out funding for these abstinence-only programs in his first budget and, instead, to provide at least $50 million for comprehensive, medically-accurate, age appropriate sexual health education. Take action now by sending a message to the President. A recent statewide public opinion poll in Illinois found that 71% of voters in our state support legislation that funds honest sexual health education. Make your voice heard on this critical issue today! read more » |
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