Illinois state senate passed a civil union bill by a vote of 32-24.  The bill will take effect in July.

Illinois joins 11 other states and the District of Columbia in providing some form of relationship recognition to same-sex couples, through marriage, civil unions, or domestic partnerships. Unmarried opposite-sex couples will be eligible for civil unions in Illinois as well.

Rep. Greg Harris, a gay Democrat from Chicago, spoke passionately in favor of the bill in the house. “We have a chance here, as leaders have had in previous generations, to correct injustice and to move us down the path toward liberty,” he said, according to the Chicago Tribune.“It’s a matter of fairness, it’s a matter of respect, it’s a matter of equality.”

Most of those favoring the legislation were Democrats, although a handful of Republicans voted for the bill, and a couple of Republican house members stood up to voice their support.

Tags: civil union bill, Greg Harris, Illinois, same sex couples