Posted on 07/01/2003 3:49:34 PM PDT by unspun
By The Leader-Chicago Bureau (chicago@illinoisleader.com) - Opposite sex domestic partnerships not to be included, clerk's office says
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| Rev Bob VandenBosch, lobbyist for Concerned Christian Americans said today is a "sad day for Cook County and the state of Illinois." |
The certificates will be available to Cook County residents in 90 days, but only to couples who are of the same sex. No heterosexual domestic partnerships will be authorized to receive the certificate according to the Cook County Clerk's office.
Cook County Clerk David Orr's office has been preparing for this development. Scott Burnham, spokesman for the Clerk, said today that those who are applying will need to pay $30 and both of the partners will need to come in personally to obtain the domestic partnership certificate.
"When the couple comes in, they will need to fulfill some requirements before obtaining the certificate," Burnham said. "They will need to swear that they are not legally married to someone of the opposite sex, that they are living together in a committed relationship, and they are both over eighteen years of age."
Burnham said that the certificate will provide private sector employers with proof that their employees are in a relationship, opening the way for health care insurance for the other person in the relationship.
“The only purpose that I can see is to incrementally create a new form of marriage in Cook County and then work to expand it to the entire state. It’s a step toward giving rights and benefits to couples who do not qualify for marriage,” Kathy Valente, state director of Concerned Women for America of Illinois said.
The ordinance, which was sponsored by Commissioners Mike Quigley, John Stroger and Mayor Richard M. Daley's brother, John Daley, easily passed the board with one "present" vote. Commissioner Carl Hansen spoke out against the ordinance.
"This is a sad day for Cook County, and for the state of Illinois," Rev. Bob VandenBosch of Villa Park said today. VandenBosch has lobbied against preferential rights for homosexuals at the state capitol for over ten years.
"This ordinance today only muddies up the waters on the issue of marriage," VandenBosch, on the staff of the Quentin Road Baptist Church, said today. "How will these couples register, how will they un-register their partnerships?"
Burnham said that the couples will un-register in a similar way that they register -- likely to be simply filing paperwork, "nothing as complicated as getting a divorce."'
Will bi-sexuals be allowed to register with more than one person in their relationships?
"You need to call Quigley's office for that answer," Burnham said. "I am assuming that only two persons will be allowed to be included in a domestic partnership, just as it is with marriage certificates."
Questions about inheritance provisions, medical care authorization and asset disbursement in case of partnership termination has not been clearly outlined either, the clerk's office said.
"The homosexual movement has always wanted preferential treatment, and now they have it in Cook County," VandenBosch said. "The only hope for marriage to be protected in Illinois is for the church to begin an outcry against this. With the Supreme Court's decision last week, and this decision today, maybe onlookers will finally get involved in protecting our children's future."
_______________ What are your thoughts concerning the issues raised in this story? Write us at letters@illinoisleader.com.
An interesting idea, C138... maybe some day....
Indeed, I believe the only answer is spiritual revival in the United States!
An interesting idea, C138... maybe some day....
Ummm, very interesting....I only see a few problems with that.....1) We have better morals than that (although PDA's in a small way would be ok) 2) We couldn't get a permit because we aren't a "minority" group (well,not yet) and 3) I have no one to committ these acts with *sniff*
Seriously though, we should have a straight pride parade....we should be proud we are straight.
Then by that logic, gays are fundies too...they took up marches and arms for their beliefs....everybody by your logic is a fundy in one way or another because everyone "fundementally" believes something.
Why is it that everything has to be labled????
By the way, how are your children doing psychological & academically since you made this "revalation"???? Behavioral problems????
I have no problem if gay people want to be gay, I do have a problem with you FORCING your choice upon the rest of society and telling us that it is normal....we don't feel it is and that's our right to believe that. A black person is born black, they can't change that.....a gay person isn't born gay, they can change it. However, if you believe that you are born gay, then you contradict yourself and therefore believe that there is a "gay" gene which is an abnormal gene.
Therefore, it's a choice.....Lifestyle choices do not deserve the same "anti discrimination" laws that heritage does. Prejudice against people because of their heritage (ie: african american, mexican, chinese) is wrong, they are born people like the rest of us and didn't choose to be black, mexican or whatever. Prejudice against handicaps (ie: dwarfism or other phsyical deformities) is wrong, they didn't choose to be like that. HOWEVER, people should be allowed to be prejudice because of moral & religious beliefs against people that CHOOSE to live outside of what their beliefs are. You chose that lifestyle, you weren't born into it. Now, let's see you argue you were born into it, then I'll tell you it's a birth defect (an abnormal gene) that we should be searching for a cure for.
Choices do not deserve discrimination protection....if you don't like the discrimination you get, don't make that choice....next you'll be saying I have no right to have prejudice against child molestors or murderers or even people that chose to be bigots.
Actually, yesterday I went downtown Wheaton to visit the "Moving Wall" (half size, although it looked pretty big to me) replica of the actual "wall" in DC. Was very moving, I took a friend that is a Nam vet, he was pointing out his friends that had died in his unit, all in the same day, he cried as he pointed them out and I cried because I could see he was reliving that moment and I could see the pain on his face. :o( You need to try and get there before it leaves on Sunday. It's not that far from you. Saturday night they are having a candlelit vigil at dusk.
Any who wants to march with their Palm Pilot deserves to "sniff"
Well, I didn't think C138 was for "replicating" the Gay Pride parade...! ;-)
That would be a good idea. I've been to the one in DC... moving walls they are.
But I meant, where were you in the pictures? ;-) We should have had someone shoot you back!
My daughter took ONE....but GRRRRRR took some of me! (or was that The Brush's pictures)
Sultan, looks like it's coming back to your area.
They had a local anchorman who has come out of the closet as their Grand Marshall.
They had floats, lots of Rainbow Flags, and quite a bit of leather.
I was stuck helping my sister move furniture and she just happens to live in Wilton Manors. Nice apartment, cheap rent, and neighbors she doesn't have to worry about. Anyway, I got stuck on a side street waiting for the parade to pass. I was actually begining to think it wasn't too bad when two guys on a float began to simulate the act the Supreme Court recently condoned. Soon after I spotted two of the marchers who were stopping to have their picture taken playing serious tonsil hockey. Then came the drag queens...
I gotta wonder...what would the press and the public make of a mirror event? Most of the parade would be straights walking with signs and chanting, but every once in a while, whammo, something really controversial - like a float sponsored by a local strip club, or good looking scantily clad couples getting it on for the enjoyment of the spectators.
Hmmmmmmmm...
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