News & Commentary

On December 1st, 2010, the Illinois Senate approved the Illinois Religious Freedom Protection and Civil Union Act, after the Illinois House's approval the previous day. Once the Governor signs that bill, the Civil Union Act will become the law of Illinois and the extensive and crucially important protections available by joining in a civil union will be available to all Illinois citizens.

Sandra Benson Brantley, Counsel to the General Assembly, Office of the Attorney General:

This week, Illinois changed the course of history.

Gay

I came down to Springfield this morning with ACLU of Illinois Executive Director Colleen Connell and Board President Jill Metz to join the rest of the ACLU team as we fight for two of our major legislative objectives during this fall veto session: passing SB 1716 Illinois Religious Freedom Protection and Civil Union Act and SB 3529 which would end the death penalty.

On Wednesday, November 10th, the American Civil Liberties Union of Illinois will be inducted at the Chicago Gay and Lesbian Hall of Fame's 20th annual ceremony in recognition of "decades of support for the civil liberties of the LGBT community and persons living with HIV as well as advocacy of nondiscrimination laws covering sexual orientation, gender identity and HIV status."

The wave of recent youth suicides due to anti-LGBT bullying has been a wakeup call to many. In September, writer Dan Savage started the It Gets Better Project on YouTube to offer hope and support to LGBT youth, letting them know that despite the bullying and harassment they face in high school or in their community - it can and does get better:

After 42+ years together and living in the deep south, my partner and I can finally say we are married.

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