CHICAGO (AP) — Civil rights groups in Illinois applauded the Cook County Board’s decision to create a registry for same-sex couples at the Cook County clerk’s office. Cook County includes the city of Chicago.

“It’s a step closer to letting people see that we have couples deserving of respect, protection and equal treatment,” said Pat Logue, an attorney and spokesperson for the Lambda Legal Defense and Education Fund. “It’s been a banner week for our community.”

The board voted 13-3 July 1 to grant the domestic partnership certificates for a $30 filing fee.

The Cook County Board’s vote is especially relevant in light of last month’s Supreme Court ruling, Logue said.

“What Cook County has done is give life to the Supreme Court decision,” Logue said.

The court … threw out a Texas anti-sodomy law, saying that such a prohibition violates the defendants’ privacy rights under the Constitution.

“The partnership law is consistent with the Supreme Court’s language — that homosexual relationships are deserving of respect,” said Harvey Grossman, legal director of the American Civil Liberties Union of Illinois.

The board’s 12 Democrats and Republican Peter Silvestri of Elmwood Park voted for the bill. Three Republicans voted against. Republican Commissioner Gregg Goslin voted present.

“It’s particularly positive that the vote was as large as it was,” Grossman said.

While Cook County’s newest ordinance doesn’t go as far as declaring a couple married, some say it could help same-sex couples with an array of legal subjects, like probate and medical issues.

“The act of registering may be useful in a wide range of circumstances as evidence of prior commitment and affection,” Grossman said.

Registrants must sign an affidavit saying they live together, that neither is registered to another partner and that they are in a committed relationship.

The ordinance also authorizes Orr’s office to issue affidavits of termination when a same-sex relationship ends.

Other counties that have domestic partner registries include Los Angeles County, California; Broward County, Florida; Westchester County, New York; and Travis County, Texas.