By Gary Barlow

Staff writer

It may be a cliché, but “it plays in Peoria” took on new meaning this month in the Illinois Senate when Sen. David Koehler (D-Peoria/Pekin) signed on as the chief Senate sponsor of legislation to allow civil unions for gay and lesbian couples in the Land of Lincoln.

“We’re really very excited that the main sponsor of this legislation is from Downstate,” said Rick Garcia, political director of Equality Illinois, the state’s leading GLBT advocacy group.

The Senate bill, SB 2436, was referred to the Senate Rules Committee Feb. 15 and is a companion piece to legislation openly gay Rep. Greg Harris (D-Chicago) is pushing in the Illinois House.

Garcia said backers of the bill are lining up support in both houses.

“We’re working both the House and the Senate and whenever we have the votes in either chamber, that’s when we’ll move it,” Garcia said.

He’s optimistic that that’ll happen this year.

“I’m pretty confident this year,” Garcia said. “It may not be until the fall but we’re in a very good place and the votes are coming slowly but surely.”

Garcia said support for civil unions and other GLBT equality issues has grown in all regions of Illinois because politicians have seen that anti-GLBT election platforms don’t win in Illinois.

“People who’ve been supportive of our community win,” he said. “So politics are on our side. I’m confident that we’ll see this bill sooner rather than later.”

The civil unions bill is expected to get a big push April 9, when Equality Illinois holds its annual Lobby Day at the Illinois State Capitol in Springfield. Hundreds of advocates for civil unions and other GLBT-rights issues are expected to fill the Capitol that day to lobby legislators.

Garcia said Equality plans to charter buses for Chicago-area residents who want to go to Springfield for the day. Buses leave early April 9 from Lakeview, Bolingbrook and other locations as needed, and return from Springfield late that evening.

People interested in going to Springfield for Equality Illinois Lobby Day April 9 may call (773) 477-7173 to register and reserve a seat on one of the buses to the Illinois State Capitol in Springfield.