"We believe in civil rights, and we believe in civil unions," Quinn said. "We believe in liberty and justice for all."

Gov. Pat Quinn this afternoon signed into law a measure legalizing civil unions for same-sex couples for the first time in Illinois.

Posted by Monique Garcia at 12:01 a.m.; updated at 5:12 p.m.

Rep. Greg Harris, D-Chicago, applauded the governor's signature as a step toward equality."As great a victory as we celebrate here today, there's more work to be done. Things can get better," Harris said.

The measure, approved last month during the General Assembly's lame-duck session, lets gays and lesbians use civil unions as a way to enjoy several of the same rights as people who are married, ranging from sharing a nursing home room to being involved in dramatic end-of-life decisions.

The law takes effect June 1 once signed. It also applies to heterosexual couples, signifying a step short of marriage.

The lengthy bill signing ceremony took place at a packed Chicago Cultural Center.

Within the first 48 hours of Quinn announcing he would sign the measure, more than 700 peopled RSVP'd to attend the event. The governor's office expects such a large turnout that it has reserved an overflow room that will broadcast a live feed in case the main hall gets too crowded.



The Chicago Gay Men's chorus performed and the Pledge of Allegiance will be led by openly gay veterans. "We are just so excited to join the handful of states that recognize equality," said Quinn spokeswoman Brie Callahan.

Last month, Quinn declared the legislature's approval a "proud day for the people of our state and the families of our state."

But several opponents said civil unions equate to gay marriage, and many questioned why the post-election vote took place when the state is in a financial mess.

"We are the incompetence laughing stock of government mismanagement and misplaced priorities, and our one-party (Democratic) leadership spends our time on homosexual civil unions," Sen. Chris Lauzen, R-Aurora, at the time.

Supporters defeated a heavy opposition lobbying effort led by the Catholic Conference of Illinois, which is headed by Cardinal Francis George.

Thousands of people on both sides of the issue sent e-mails, visited legislators and made phone calls. A Tribune poll conducted in late September showed 57 percent approved of legalizing civil unions while 32 percent disapproved.

Since the civil unions measure passed, Democrats also led approval of a death-penalty ban that Quinn has yet to act on, and a major income tax increase that he quickly signed.