Equality Illinois applauds passage today of legislation ensuring pension fairness for LGBT individuals who retired from public employment prior to the civil unions law and marriage equality law. We now call upon Gov. Bruce Rauner to expeditiously sign the bill as soon as it reaches his desk.
Equality Illinois advocated for the bill, which allows retired public employees who are in a same-sex civil union or marriage to designate survivor benefits for their spouse.
Prior to the enactment of civil unions and marriage equality in Illinois, members of the these public pension systems who were in same-sex relationships were not able to designate their partner for survivor benefits because the state did not legally recognize them as couples.