Ahh, farm weddings. They're so quaint, and adorably sweet. But this one, in particular, has much more to offer than just adorable sweetness.
A couple in Rockdale, Ill., is putting together a June wedding that will have more significance than they’d originally hoped, with Gov. Pat Quinn signing a bill today that legalizes civil unions. Thanks to this bill, partners Ray Welsh and Patrick Dalton will be able to fulfill their dream of being legally united.
Yep. They're both men.
“It completes our relationship together,” Welsh said. “So now it’s not just a figure of speech that we are committed, and it will be recognition for us statewide.” Welsh and Dalton will not be legally "married" but they will be, well, "civil unioned." LGBT activists expect to continue to work toward legalized same-sex marriage.
The new law, which has been approved by Illinois's legislative branch, will allow same-sex couples to make medical decisions for each other, file lawsuits in their partner's name, receive their partner's pension benefits in the event of their death, get a divorce if necessary, and give them legal rights over children born to the couple.
Congratulations, you two! We wish we could be there to see Ray ride in on his John Deere.