Celebrate Valentine’s Day: Register!
In 1997, OPALGA organized a community-wide initiative to pressure the Oak Park Village Board to consider and approve an ordinance to establish a domestic partnership registry. In September of 1997, the Village Board approved the ordinance. The establishment of the domestic partnership registry broke new ground: it became the first domestic partnership registry established by an Illinois municipality.
Upon passage of the registry, it was immediately challenged via a petition drive by anti-LGBT forces calling for a non-binding referendum on the ordinance. OPALGA and the entire Oak Park community organized a huge campaign to counter the referendum: “Vote YES Oak Park.” What were the results of the referendum? I am sure that those of you who have visited The OPALGA Center have noticed the framed Wednesday Journal of Oak Park and River Forest front page with the banner headline on March 18, 1998: “Big Gay Day!” In a watershed moment for OPALGA and the Village of Oak Park, the ordinance was upheld. Another first: Oak Park became the first municipality in the nation to uphold a domestic partnership referendum by popular vote.
Declarations of domestic partnership may be registered with the Office of the Village Clerk. Domestic partners are defined by the ordinance as two unrelated and unmarried persons of the same sex who are age 18 or older, have lived together in Oak Park for at least six months, and are jointly responsible for each other’s necessities of life. Identification (passport or driver’s license) and proof of residence (lease, mortgage document, or utility bill) are required. The registration fee is $50.00.
In addition, each partner is issued a certified copy of his or her domestic partnership declaration. Registration is available by appointment only at the Village Clerk’s office: 708-358-5700.
Show your love and commitment by registering!
