Senate Bill 2436: Creates Civil Unions

Author:
Senator David Koehler

Summary:
A bill which would permit same-sex couples to enter into spousal unions and to have the same rights, responsibilities, and obligations as married couples will be heard in committee on Tuesday, March 11, 2008. This bill, S.B. 2436, would erode the family, which has been the bulwark of American society since its founding. We need your help to stop this dangerous legislation.

Status:

2/15/2008		(Senate) Filed with the Secretary by Sen. David Koehler
2/15/2008		(Senate) First Reading
2/15/2008		(Senate) Referred to Rules
2/27/2008		(Senate) Judiciary Civil Law Hearing, scheduled
3/6/2008		(Senate) Held in Judiciary Civil Law Committee—no vote

HSLDA's Position:
Please call the members of the Illinois State Senate Judiciary Civil Law Committee and, in your own words, give them this message:

“Please oppose legislation that recognizes spousal unions, giving them the same rights as married couples. Please vote against Senate Bill 2436, which is an attack on traditional marriage and erodes the family.”

You do not need to identify yourself as a homeschooler. Though this bill affects homeschoolers, it also affects every family in Illinois.

Members of the Judiciary Civil Law Committee

Co-Chair: John J. Cullerton, (217) 782-7260
Vice-Chair: Don Harmon, (217) 782-8176
William R. Haine, (217) 782-5247
Michael Noland, (217) 782-7746
Ira I. Silverstein, (217) 782-5500
A. J. Wilhelmi, (217) 782-8800
Co-Chair: Kirk W. Dillard, (217) 782-8148
Dan Cronin, (217) 782-8107
Randall M. Hultgren, (217) 782-8022
Matt Murphy, (217) 782-4471

Action Requested:
None requested at this time.

Background:
Parental rights are a recognized constitutional right despite the fact that they are not explicitly stated in the Constitution. It is a fair question to ask: If they are implied rights rather than explicit rights, what is the source of parental rights?

Here is what the Supreme Court said in 2000 in the case of Troxel v. Granville:

“Our jurisprudence historically has reflected Western civilization concepts of the family as a unit with broad parental authority over minor children. Our cases have consistently followed that course.”

Thus, you can see that parental rights are based on “western civilization concepts of the family.”

When those concepts are no longer the legal definition of the family in this nation, then the foundation upon which parental rights are based is completely removed.

In a world which widely embraces the notions of the U.N. Convention on the Rights of the Child, it is fanciful to believe that any other theory will arise to replace the traditions of western civilization as a basis for parental rights.

Therefore, HSLDA will continue to fight against same-sex marriage. Same-sex marriage attacks the traditions of the family in western civilization. This is an attack on parental rights. This is a battle the homeschooling movement cannot afford to lose.

Other Resources

Bill Text

Bill History

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