Yesterday, civil unions took effect in Illinois. It's Step 1, and no one is pretending otherwise. How long it's going to take for full marriage is a guess, but I'd say within a couple of years. Here's an outline from Jill M.Metz of the ACLU on what civil unions do and don't do. And from the Chicago Tribune, some stories:
In Cook County, Janean Watkins and Lakeesha Harris camped overnight outside the Daley Center to be the first in line as the state's new civil-unions law kicked in.
"It's historic," said Watkins, who has been with Harris for 10 years. "We wanted to be first. We wanted to make a statement. For us, for our kids. It really means something."
The couple has six children who will all be in attendance at a formal civil union ceremony tomorrow.
Watkins and Harris were followed by more than 100 other couples who arrived early to get licenses.
The ceremonies start today.
Update: I just checked the print editions of both Chicago dailies -- both have front-page stories, very straightforward and very positive coverage with a strong focus on actual couples. Think back ten years and what the reaction would have been in the local press -- if there had been a reaction at all.
Maggie? You're losing.
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