Illinois signs civil unions bill into law
Illinois joins five other states on Monday to legalize civil unions, a move that would give same-sex couples many of the legal protection now granted to married couples.
The Governor Pat Quinn signed the bill before a crowd of enthusiastic residents at a ceremony in a hall in Chicago.
"Today is an important day in the history of the state because now show the world that the people of Illinois believe in equality for all," said Quinn. "We seek individuals and companies throughout the country have chosen to move to Illinois, where we believe that everyone is entitled to the same rights."
The provision comes into force on June 1 called Senate Bill 1716 creates the Illinois Religious Freedom Protection and Civil Unions Act.
The new law will allow same-sex and heterosexual couples to enter civil unions grant them many rights accorded to married couples.
These rights include the automatic right to hospital visitation, the ability to make medical decisions for emergency partners, the ability to share a room in a nursing home, adoption and parental rights, benefits pensions, inheritance and the right of return of a partner, the governor's office.
"Also, in Illinois, five other states and the District of Columbia have civil unions or similar laws from books. The states are California, Nevada, New Jersey, Oregon and Washington," said the governor's office.
But some groups oppose the new law in Illinois
Illinois Family Institute, a nonprofit group that says it seeks to confirm marriage in the state, known as the "division".
"The Governor Quinn should reject this bill anti-family and reject the actions of homosexuals in the lobby providing a highly controversial and contradictory politics of the people of Illinois," said David E. Smith, CEO of the group.
But like Mercedes Santos and Theresa Volpe said the new law will radically change their lives.
It gives them rights that other families have when it comes to their six year old daughter and a son two years, said CNN affiliate WLS.
"Our son has a disease, then go to the hospital to say that we can both be in the room with him and make decisions without too many questions, is simply easier for us," Santos told the company affiliate.