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by GoPride.com News Staff

Springfield, Illinois — State Sen. David Koehler (D-Peoria), who introduced the historic civil unions bill in the Illinois Senate, is now sponsoring an amendment to the bill that would allow discrimination against couples in civil unions when it comes to adoption and foster care. 

"This bill is an attack on the Civil Union Act and by extension, the Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Transgender community," stated Anthony Martinez, Executive Director of The Civil Rights Agenda. 

Senate Bill 1123 would allow religious institutions the right to refuse couples in a civil unions because of its "deeply held religious beliefs."

TCRA says this is a clear violation of the federal equal protection clause that bans the government from allowing any agency to practice discrimination when choosing parents for children in the adoption system.

State Sen. William Haine (D-Alton), a co-sponsor of the legislation, told the HuffPost Chicago that sexual orientation was never brought up. Haine indicated the Roman Catholic Church grew concerned because it had historically not placed children in households where the couple is unmarried. 

Haine voted against the original civil unions bill. 

Martinez is concerned the bill, which is moving to the executive committee, could pass since Koehler and Haine are sponsors. TCRA and Equality Illinois are calling on members of the LGBT community to contact the co-sponsors of the legislation.

Co-Sponsors of the Legislation:

Senator David Koehler
(217) 782-8250

Senator William Haine
(217) 782-5247

Senator Thomas Johnson
(217) 782-8022

Senator Edward Maloney
(217) 782-5145

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