Senator David Koehler has introduced a bill into the state senate of Illinois, United States to legalize civil unions.

The legislation, which was submitted to parliament earlier this week, would allow for same-sex couples as well as heterosexual couples to have a legally recognized union.

In an interview with the Peoria Journal-Star, Senator Koehler said that the bill is likely to receive stiff opposition from Republican MPs as well as those who are socially conservative.

“This is going to be controversial because people are going to try to get all other kinds of issues about the morality of being gay.

“I hope that can stay to the sideline, because that's not the full intent of this bill. This bill is merely to recognize there are long-term committed relationships that right now do not have the law behind them.”

Conservative group the Illinois Family Institute has already dismissed the bill, and stated that it is “just another attempt to pass counterfeit marriage in Illinois.”

This is the second time in two years that a civil unions bill has been introduced into Illinois parliament. Representative Greg Harris filed legislation in 2007 which was approved by committee, but has not yet faced a vote by the full house.

Tags: gay rights