Illinois Lesbian and Gay Legal Briefs » Sandra Slaga

California’s Voter-Approved Ban on Same-Sex Marriage Held Unconstitutional

Sandra Slaga — Tue, 07 Feb 2012 19:01:12 +0000

The federal 9th Circuit Court of Appeals, in a 2-1 decision, has held Proposition 8 unconstitutional. The court found that the ban “served no purpose, and had no effect, other than to lessen the status and human dignity of gays and lesbians in California, and to officially reclassify their relationship and families as inferior to those of opposite-sex couples.” And that, the decision states, violates the 14th Amendment’s guarantee of equal protection under the law.

Read the full decision here.

Illinois Couples in Civil Unions May File Joint State Income Tax Returns

Sandra Slaga — Tue, 29 Nov 2011 17:05:11 +0000

Good news for couples in civil unions from the Illinois Department of Revenue. See this article in today’s Chicago Tribune.

Canada and Same-Sex Marriage

Sandra Slaga — Thu, 14 Jul 2011 15:13:53 +0000

Interesting article from the Calgary Herald about Canada’s experience with same-sex marriage.

Illinois Civil Unions Don’t Cross State Lines

Sandra Slaga — Wed, 29 Jun 2011 12:00:32 +0000

This article from the Springfield State Journal-Register points out why same-sex couples who enter an Illinois civil union should still execute health-care and financial powers of attorney.

Does Illinois Allow Same Sex Marriage?

Sandra Slaga — Tue, 28 Jun 2011 12:39:27 +0000

No, Illinois does not allow same-sex marriage, but it does allow civil unions. As of July 1, 2011, civil unions became legal in Illinois. The Illinois Religious Freedom Protection and Civil Unions Act (“Act”) was passed by the Illinois General Assembly on December 1, 2010 and signed into law by Governor Pat Quinn on January 31, 2011. It is codified at 750 ILCS 75/1 et seq.

Section 60 of the Act states:

A marriage between persons of the same sex, a civil union, or a substantially similar legal relationship other than common law marriage, legally entered into in another jurisdiction, shall be recognized in Illinois as a civil union. (emphasis added)

In Illinois, partners to a civil union are now on equal footing with parties to a valid Illinois marriage as spouses.

Section 20 plainly states that:

[a] party to a civil union is entitled to the same legal obligations, responsibilities, protections, and benefits as are afforded or recognized by the law of Illinois to spouses, whether they derive from statute, administrative rule, policy, common law, or any other source of civil or criminal law.

Illinois Civil Unions – Too Late for One Couple

Sandra Slaga — Thu, 27 Jan 2011 19:52:36 +0000

Good article from Quad-City Online about how civil unions will come 17 years too late for one Illinois man.

New Hospital Visitation Regulations for LGBT Families

Sandra Slaga — Sat, 15 Jan 2011 00:24:56 +0000

New federal regulations require all hospitals participating in Medicare and Medicaid to allow patients to designate visitors of their choosing. Effective January 18, 2011, these hospitals – virtually very hospital in the United States - may not restrict, limit or otherwise deny visitation privileges on the basis of, among other factors, sexual orientation and gender identity.

To view the CMS regulations revising the Medicare Conditions of Participation as set forth at 42 CFR § 482.13(h), click here.

Illlinois County Clerks Prepare Civil Union Paperwork

Sandra Slaga — Thu, 06 Jan 2011 17:52:01 +0000

An article in today’s Aurora Beacon-News discusses how county clerks are preparing for the civil union application process. Couples may apply for civil unions beginning June 1, 2011.

County Clerks Prepare for Illinois Civil Unions

Sandra Slaga — Mon, 20 Dec 2010 18:24:33 +0000

County clerks throughout Illinois are getting ready to process civil union applications next year. See this article from the Decatur, Illinois Herald-Review.

Illinois Civil Union Bill Not Just for Same-Sex Couples

Sandra Slaga — Fri, 03 Dec 2010 19:19:55 +0000

Today’s Chicago Tribune has a good article that discusses why opposite sex couples might seek a civil union rather than marriage.

For example, senior citizens with survivor’s benefits from Social Security or a pension stand to lose that income if they remarry. A civil union would allow them to keep those benefits while still providing the same state rights as a marriage.

Check out the article here.