5,185 Civil Unions in Illinois Since they Began in 2011

“We are seeing a push for equal marriage at every level of Government throughout Illinois…”

(GayWebSource.com) – December 20, 2012 • Chicago, Illinois – The Civil Rights Agenda (TCRA), the leading and largest Illinois Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender (LGBT) civil rights advocacy organization, has conducted a survey of every county in Illinois and found that there have been 5,185 civil union licenses issued in Illinois since civil unions began in June of 2011. These results come as the General Assembly prepares to vote on the Religious Freedom and Marriage Fairness Act (HB5170) as early as January.

“Almost 5200 couples have chosen to join in civil union to gain the state-level protections that are afforded to couples in a marriage,” stated Rick Garcia, Director of the Equal Marriage Illinois Project and Senior Policy Advisor of The Civil Rights Agenda. “The majority of these couples are same-sex couples, and civil unions do not provide the protections that marriage does. We still find couples in emergency rooms that have problems explaining their relationship. Nobody knows what a civil union is, but everyone knows what a marriage is and we must treat every family equally and with the same respect. We are seeing a push for equal marriage at every level of Government throughout Illinois and the polling has sent a clear message that the time for marriage in Illinois is now.”

The survey was concluded as of 12/18/2012.

Rick Garcia, The Civil Rights Agenda’s Director of the Equal Marriage Illinois Project, was the lead lobbyist and organizer for the passage of the civil union legislation in Illinois.

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About The Equal Marriage Illinois Project

This project seeks to gain equal marriage rights for same-gender couples in Illinois through the legislative process. The Equal Marriage Illinois Project is a project of The Civil Rights Agenda.

About The Civil Rights Agenda

The Civil Rights Agenda’s mission is to maintain and increase individual rights for Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, and Queer (LGBTQ) citizens in Illinois through inter-generational volunteerism and community-driven project-based education, statewide coalition and network building, and leadership in supporting underserved communities. Please find us online at www.jointcra.org or email us at info@jointcra.org.

Media Contact

Rick Garcia

Director of Equal Marriage Illinois Project

Senior Policy Advisor for The Civil Rights Agenda

rgarcia@jointcra.org

312.560.0405 – Mobile

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