By Brody Levesque | CHICAGO, ILLINOIS -- The LGBT advocacy group Equality Illinois via a press release circulated late last week, said that according to their estimates, 1,618 total civil union licenses were issued across Illinois this past month as the state's Civil Unions Law took effect June 1.
EQ Illinois staffers each of the state's county clerks in 102 counties finding that Gay & Lesbian couples applying for civil unions were represented in 83 of them -- or just over 80 percent. EQ Illinois in addition to the statistical data asked those offices for feedback on the law's implementation.
According to EQ Illinois, "many clerks offered stories about the excitement that permeated their offices, especially on the first day civil union licenses were offered."
Randy Hannig, Director of Public Policy for Equality Illinois, said that he was certain the total number of Illinois residents now in civil unions is "drastically higher" than the 1,618 figure they arrived at. Hannig points out that many other Illinois couples who had entered into a marriage or civil union in other states prior to Illinois' law taking effect are now, in the eyes of the state, also legally recognised.
The group estimates that since most of the state's counties charge the same $30.00 fee as a marriage licence for the civil unions, so far approximately $48,540 in badly needed new revenue has been raised statewide.
But for Illinois same-sex couples, a loophole in the state's tax code due to the federal Defense of Marriage Act, in a decision reached by the Illinois Department of Revenue, disallows same-sex couples in civil unions the ability to file joint returns which means taxation at the higher single rates which EQ Illinois has labeled discriminatory. It does provide official recognition from the state and many of the same rights that accompany opposite-sex marriage, including the right to inherit a partner's property and to make medical decisions for a partner.
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