Same-sex marriage in Illinois was legalized by a law signed on November 20, 2013, by Governor Pat Quinn, that took effect on June 1, 2014. Illinois established civil unions as of June 1, 2011, when Governor Quinn signed legislation on January 31, 2011. The law allows both same-sex and opposite-sex couples to form civil unions and provides state recognition of substantially similar legal relationships, including same-sex marriages and civil unions, entered into in other jurisdictions.