CHICAGO — Gov. Pat Quinn, saying it was a “day of history,” signed legislation Monday legalizing civil unions for gay and lesbian couples, making Illinois one of about a dozen states that extend significant legal protections to same-sex couples.
About 1,000 people crowded into the Chicago Cultural Center to watch Quinn, a Democrat, sign the measure that supporters call a matter of basic fairness and opponents decry as a threat to the sanctity of traditional marriage.
“We believe in civil rights and we believe in civil unions,” Quinn said before signing the bill to a roar of cheers and applause.
The law, which takes effect June 1, gives gay and lesbian couples official recognition from the state and many of the rights that accompany traditional marriage, including the power to decide medical treatment for an ailing partner and the right to inherit a partner’s property.
Full Story: Illinois Gov. signs historic civil unions law