On June 1st, 2011, gender common couples in Illinois obtained the legal right to enter into civil unions. As of today it seems that the numbers of civil union licences have far exceed the expected amount.
I wish each of these couples well.
I wish to focus my comments on the fact that civil unions are not equal to civil marriage and those gender common couples who sincerely wish to obtain the same, full and equal rights which comes with marriage cannot and must not settle for civil unions as "the best we can get."
It is my hope and prayer that unconditional civil rights are provided for all members of our local and national families.
Let this work continue.