A Desire to Be Equal: Couple Speaks Out About Gay Marriage Debate
By: Kim Behrens
Updated: January 10, 2013
BLOOMINGTON- Like most Americans, Lauri Shepard and Taneea Gustine have jobs, a house, and a child.
The only difference is that their toddler Khy, gets the love of two moms, instead of one.
"Hopefully the older he gets the more time will go on and it will be more accepted," said Gustine.
Shepard and Gustine have been together for six years.
They have a civil union, but they say it doesn't give them the same rights or title as a marriage certificate.
"We spent a week after we had the civil union joking, "Okay, are we civil unionized now? Are you my "civil partner?" laughed Shepard.
The document doesn't let them file joint tax returns, transfer benefits and assets, or give them both legal custody of their son Khy.
"If she hadn't gone through a second parent adoption process she wouldn't be protected as his mother," explained Gustine.
So when a bill to redefine marriage got left on the sidelines in Springfield, it discouraged many gay couples.
But opponents like State Senator Bill Brady say the proposal violates the beliefs of churches.
"They drafted a bill that was so poorly created I think it would be ruled unconstitutional because of its infringements on religious institutions," said Brady.
Brady believes Illinois has bigger issues to tackle, like the pension problem.
"Everyone has a right to their own priorities, but our state is losing jobs everyday because we failed to solve the fiscal crisis," he added.
While the future of their relationship lays in the hands of lawmakers, the women hope one day, they'll be married.
They only hope their ceremony won't be in another state.
Although he opposes gay marriage, Senator Brady says the issue is gaining momentum.
He expects it to be legalized later this year.
The only difference is that their toddler Khy, gets the love of two moms, instead of one.
"Hopefully the older he gets the more time will go on and it will be more accepted," said Gustine.
Shepard and Gustine have been together for six years.
They have a civil union, but they say it doesn't give them the same rights or title as a marriage certificate.
"We spent a week after we had the civil union joking, "Okay, are we civil unionized now? Are you my "civil partner?" laughed Shepard.
The document doesn't let them file joint tax returns, transfer benefits and assets, or give them both legal custody of their son Khy.
"If she hadn't gone through a second parent adoption process she wouldn't be protected as his mother," explained Gustine.
So when a bill to redefine marriage got left on the sidelines in Springfield, it discouraged many gay couples.
But opponents like State Senator Bill Brady say the proposal violates the beliefs of churches.
"They drafted a bill that was so poorly created I think it would be ruled unconstitutional because of its infringements on religious institutions," said Brady.
Brady believes Illinois has bigger issues to tackle, like the pension problem.
"Everyone has a right to their own priorities, but our state is losing jobs everyday because we failed to solve the fiscal crisis," he added.
While the future of their relationship lays in the hands of lawmakers, the women hope one day, they'll be married.
They only hope their ceremony won't be in another state.
Although he opposes gay marriage, Senator Brady says the issue is gaining momentum.
He expects it to be legalized later this year.
