SPRINGFIELD - A Chicago lawmaker is employing a new approach to push a controversial civil unions bill through the Illinois Legislature: tying the measure to concerns of heterosexual senior citizens.

A group of Illinois seniors, who traveled to Springfield this week argue that without civil unions legislation, heterosexual couples who choose not to marry could be barred from making critical decisions for their partner, such as health care or funeral arrangements.

Jesse Mustin, 64, said he has a number of friends and family members who faced difficult situations when their heterosexual life partner was unable to make crucial decisions for them because they were not legally married.

"Whomever you're living with all your life should be making those decisions," said Mustin, who is from Chicago.

State Rep. Greg Harris, D-Chicago, who is currently the only openly gay member of the Legislature, said the bill's impact on gay and lesbian couples is important, but the effect it would have on senior citizens is often overlooked.

The bill would grant the same legal rights to same-sex couples as it would a married couple, such as hospital visitation, health care choices and funeral options. However, no church or other religious institution would be forced to sanction the union.

"There's a lot of confusion between the concept of civil unions and same-sex marriage. This is not same-sex marriage," Harris said.

Opponents of gay marriage have countered that the situation allowed by the measure would be akin to marriage, which they say should be between a man and a woman.

"You don't need government recognition" to receive some of the benefits of marriage, said David E. Smith, executive director of the Illinois Family Institute.

The bill passed an Illinois House committee last year, but it has still not been called to a vote before the full House. Harris said he did not know if the measure would come to a vote.

Currently, state governments in Connecticut, Vermont, New Jersey, New Hampshire all allow civil unions and Massachusetts will grant marriage licenses to same sex couples. The California Supreme Court Thursday OK'd same-sex marriages.

Voters in Missouri overwhelmingly passed a constitutional amendment in 2004 defining marriage as "only between a man and a woman." Since then, there have been no major efforts by state legislators to legalize civil unions in Missouri.

The Illinois bill is HB1826.