• Civil marriage equality in effect at the state level since 2014. (Same-sex couples may legally marry.)
• Civil unions available to both same-sex and opposite-sex couples since 2011.
• 28 March 2015, ILLINOIS LAWS AGAINST LGBT DISCRIMINATION PROVIDE BALANCE TO RELIGIOUS FREEDOM STANDARDS - Statement by Bernard Cherkasov, CEO of Equality Illinois

HISTORICAL PERSPECTIVE

• Illinois was the first state to repeal state sodomy laws - the new state code passed on 28 July 1961 and became effective 1 January 1962.
• In 1996, the Illinois Marriage and Dissolution of Marriage Act was amended to prohibit marriage between two individuals of the same sex and stated that "marriage between 2 individuals of the same sex is contrary to the public policy of this State".
• Attempts to add language banning same-sex marriage to the state constitution were not successful in IL.
• Illinois provided benefits to same-sex partners of state employees beginning in 2006.
• February 2007, Representative Greg Harris introduced the Religious Freedom and Marriage Fairness Bill in the Illinois House of Representatives, which would have provided for same-sex marriage in the state. The bill died in committee.
• From January 2009 to January 2013, Representative Harris and Senator Heather Steans introduced legislation to legalize marriage equality 8 times.
• On 31 January 2011, Governor Pat Quinn signed legislation recognizing same-sex civil unions performed on or after 1 June 2011. In 2012 an attempt was made to repeal this legislation, but it failed.
• 5 November 2013, the House of Representatives finally passed a bill (SB10) legalizing same-sex marriage by 61–54, narrowly achieving the necessary 60-votes. The state Senate quickly approved the amended bill by a 32–21 vote margin and Governor Quinn signed the bill into law on 20 November 2013.The law went into effect on 1 June 2014.