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More and more couples eligible to get married in Illinois are eschewing that right and choosing to enter a civil union instead. As you may already know, only opposite sex couples are allowed to legally marry in Illinois. Same-sex couples do not have this option and must enter into a civil union instead.

While civil union and marriage may be similar, they are not identical. And to show their solidarity with same-sex couples, opposite sex civil unions have been on the rise, reports the Chicago Sun-Times.

The benefits of gay marriage were brought up in a complicated series of lawsuits over a deceased law partner’s profit sharing benefits.

Sarah Farley was a partner at the law firm Cozen O’Connor’s Chicago office when she died, reports the Philadelphia Daily News. Farley left behind $40,820 in the firm’s profit-sharing plan at death and her lesbian wife, Jennifer Tobits, and her parents are now battling it out over who will receive the benefits.

It’s already been over a month since Illinois civil unions law went into effect. On June 1st, same-sex couples were allowed to enter into civil unions where they could receive many of the same benefits as married couples.

Now, the Cook County Clerk has issued some statistics on civil unions during that first month, reports the Chicago Sun-Times. According to the report, 831 couples entered into a civil union in June. The first day, June 1st, was the busiest day as 209 union licenses were issued. On average, 30 same-sex couples entered into a union each day for the remainder of the month.

Governor Pat Quinn cut Illinois foster care contracts with Catholic Charities over the ongoing dispute of adopting to same-sex couples in civil unions.

Last month, the state passed the new civil union law that gives same-sex couples many of the same rights as married couples; including, the right to adopt children.

Catholic Charities, who cares for about 2,000 state wards, refused to recognize the new law and insisted that it did not have to adopt to same-sex couples in apparent violation of the law.

Mayor Rahm Emanuel officiated at his first civil union ceremony on Thursday between David Spielfogel, Emanuel’s chief of policy and strategic planning, and Lee Crandell. On the first day that Illinois allowed civil unions for same-sex couples, 33 other gay and lesbian couples joined together at ceremonies in Millennium Park reports the Sun-Times.

Illinois state law allowing civil unions for gay and lesbian couples went into effect recently. As same-sex couples now enjoy the right to legally join together, gay and lesbian couples may want to consider whether a civil union is in fact the right decision for them.

Same-sex couples are now lining up for civil union licenses as Illinois state law allowing civil unions for gay and lesbian couples becomes effective. The Chicago Sun-Times reports that county officials expect to issue about 2,000 civil union licenses on the first day the Illinois civil union law goes into effect.

With the new law, Illinois now joins five other states that allow same-sex couples to enjoy benefits usually given to married couples reports the Sun-Times. In fact, the new Illinois civil union law goes even further than the laws of some other states, as the Illinois law provides for the same benefits for same-sex partners in civil unions as those given to married couples.

An article about the state's recently passed (as soon as Gov. Pat Quinn signs it) civil unions bill in the Illinois Times looks at the trajectory of the legislation. It's not quite marriage; so what is next on the marriage equality agenda?

Republicans argued that passage of the bill, which grants most of the rights and privileges of marriage to domestic partners (including same-sex couples), opens the door to full gay marriage. Equality Illinois' Rick Garcia, who helped push the legislation through, thinks that's an accurate analysis:

"We've been very upfront from day one that we view the civil union bill as a stopgap measure."

Naperville couple Mike Isaac and Adam Stachowiak have been together for nearly a decade, co-own a pet shop and share a house together, according to a profile in the Naperville Sun. And with the passage of Illinois' civil unions bill which allows civil unions in Illinois, they look forward to the rights and privileges of committed heterosexual couples.

Besides the fact that they're both men, they're typical of couples in long-term relationships. Mike Isaac said his other half can be "kind of a slob," while Adam Stachowiak said his partner tends to worry too much about finances.

In what observers are calling a major victory for committed same-sex couples, the recently passed civil unions bill clears the path for gay couples who seek the rights and privileges previously available to just heterosexuals who got married.

But an article in the Chicago Tribune explains how the institution of civil union may be a good fit for some heterosexual couples as well. In fact, bill sponsor Rep. Greg Harris, D-Chicago, expressly stated his intention to draft an inclusive bill that wasn't just for gay couples.

Illinois Gov. Pat Quinn is expected to sign landmark state legislation passed yesterday extending the rights of marriage to same-sex couples without actually calling it "marriage," the Chicago Tribune reported. The Religious Freedom Protection and Civil Unions Act passed the House 61 to 52 and cleared the Senate by a vote of 32 to 24.

Some of the rights that would be extended to committed same-sex couples that enter into civil unions include the legal rights of probate matters and the ability to visit one's partner in the hospital (when only family members are allowed).