The marriage license for the 10,000th same-sex wedding in Cook County should be issued today or tomorrow. At a celebration hosted by Cook County Clerk David Orr, Equality Illinois CEO Brian C. Johnson, who with his husband Toby were the 9,191st same-sex couple to be wed here, said that they were part of the last …
Now available: The Equality Illinois Marriage Planning Guide, 2015-2016 Edition Find that special venue, the right caterer, photographer, baker and florist, and the officiant who will make your wedding memorable. Also, learn about the Illinois marriage law and the Supreme Court ruling making marriage equality the law of the land. Click below to read and …
More than 10,400 same-sex couples have married in Illinois since marriage equality arrived in the state, according to a new Equality Illinois analysis of state records. For these families, the widely anticipated U.S. Supreme Court decision on marriage equality is as important as in states where there is no freedom to marry. They may enjoy …
10,400 Couples Wed in Illinois Await Court Decision Read More »
As the U.S. Supreme Court convenes Tuesday to hear the cases on marriage equality, Illinois couples and families who are already protected under our state’s freedom to marry are as interested and concerned as people living in the state’s where that freedom is not yet recognized. Whether states must recognize the same-sex marriages performed in other …
Marriage equality could become a national reality later this year after the U.S. Supreme Court on Friday ordered a hearing on the issue. The court announced it is taking cases from four states where the wishes of same-sex couples to marry are thwarted by state laws. In its order, the court asked two questions: 1) …
One year ago today – The Illinois General Assembly passed marriage equality. Since then, the federal appeals court that covers Illinois has ruled in favor of the freedom to marry, a decision that the U.S. Supreme Court has allowed to stand. Equality Illinois stands ready to ensure that there are no efforts to weaken the …
VICTORY! Congratulations to our neighboring Midwestern states of Indiana and Wisconsin from your friends in Illinois, another MARRIAGE EQUALITY STATE. Same-sex marriages should begin shortly in Indiana and Wisconsin, as well as in Oklahoma, Utah and Virginia, after the U.S. Supreme Court refused to hear appeals of cases that overturned bans on the freedom to …
Marriage equality cases are some of the first items being considered by the Supreme Court on Monday as justices return from their summer break. Before the court are seven petitions asking the court to take up marriage equality cases involving five states. Included is the 3-0 majority opinion of the U.S. Court of Appeals in …
The unanimous U.S. Court of Appeals ruling Thursday in Chicago for the freedom to marry was a clarion call for Midwestern political leaders including Bruce Rauner of Illinois to end their stubborn opposition to marriage equality. In a news release, Equality Illinois demanded that Bruce Rauner, the Republican nominee for governor, apologize for his pledge …
EQIL Calls on Rauner: Follow Marriage Equality Ruling Read More »
Score another victory for marriage equality in the Midwest. The U.S. Appeals Court in Chicago released a unanimous 3-0 ruling against the marriage equality bans in our neighboring states of Indiana and Wisconsin. What is remarkable is that the three-judge panel took barely a week after the oral arguments to decide the case and write …
U.S. Appeals Court Orders Marriage Equality in the Midwest Read More »
The weather cleared for the Rally for Marriage Equality Monday evening, allowing couples from Indiana and Wisconsin to join supporters from Illinois in advance of an important hearing Tuesday on the freedom to marry in the Midwest. A panel of judges on the U.S. Appeals Court for the 7th Circuit in Chicago will hear oral arguments …
Same-sex couples in Illinois now enjoy the protections only marriage can provide. And that historic victory would never have happened without Illinoisans who took action and made their voices heard for equality for all. But the fight isn’t over yet; far from it actually. Because while we secured the freedom to marry in Illinois, we …
Breaking News from an Equality Illinois Report: More Than 5,000 Couples Enjoying Marriage Equality in Illinois Couples united in new marriages, by civil union conversions and by marriages in other jurisdictions recognized in Illinois are enjoying the benefits of Illinois Religious Freedom and Marriage Fairness Act. “Some politicians cannot state that they will defend marriage …
5,000 Couples Enjoying Marriage Equality in Illinois Read More »
Same-sex married couples and their children on Thursday joined with political leaders and LGBT advocates such as Equality Illinois founder Art Johnston and Equality Illinois CEO Bernard Cherkasov to unveil this huge banner of Republican gubernatorial nominee Bruce Rauner and remind voters of his threat to veto the marriage equality bill if given the opportunity. …
Banner Recalls Rauner’s Threat to Veto Marriage Equality Read More »
Six months after the Religious Freedom and Marriage Fairness Act became law, it finally went into effect statewide yesterday, and today, marriage licenses are being issued throughout the state and couples who were joined in civil unions could start converting their status to marriages if they desire. To celebrate, Equality Illinois worked with the Museum …
The countdown to marriage is underway, getting closer to June 1, 2014, when the freedom to marry finally arrives in all 102 counties of Illinois. This joyous moment means that all loving couples who want the recognition, the respect and the rights that come with marriage for them and their children will be able to …
Hundreds of clergy members in Illinois want to officiate at same-sex wedding ceremonies, newly possible under the freedom to marry law, and Equality Illinois helps couples connect with the faith leaders in a new pamphlet. The just-issued listing of wedding officiants answers one of the most frequent questions about the new marriage equality: Who will …
Champaign County Clerk Gordy Hulten (pictured left) today became the second county clerk in Illinois to issue marriage licenses to all loving, committed couples. Equality Illinois is challenging other clerks throughout the state to do the same. Clerk Hulten said his Central Illinois constituents should enjoy the constitutional right of the freedom to marry that …
U.S. District Court Judge Sharon Johnson Coleman has just ordered Cook County to begin issuing marriage licenses immediately to same-sex couples. At the same time, there are renewed attempts in Illinois to weaken or repeal our hard-won freedom to marry. Tens of thousands of Illinois couples have been waiting for a long time, some for …
Attend an Equality Illinois Marriage Forum this month at the Chicago Urban League and Fourth Presbyterian Church of Chicago. The forums are aimed at educating the public about SB10, the Religious Freedom and Marriage Fairness Act, and dispelling myths and empowering same-sex couples and their families to understand and use all their state and federal …
An Equality Illinois delegation spent Thursday, January 9 in Washington, DC meeting with leaders to discuss a wide range of issues and emphasizing that despite great gains in 2013, the agenda remains full and there should be no complacency. House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi, U.S. Sen. Dick Durbin, U.S. Rep. Mike Quigley and the Obama …