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 …
Equality Illinois today honors 41 Illinois law firms for “Raising the Bar” and leading the way in providing a welcoming and fair work environment for lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) employees and engaging with the LGBT community. The Equality Illinois Raising the Bar 2014 report released today goes into depth on the findings of …
The two executive orders expanding protections for LGBT workers signed Monday by President Obama set the standards by which policies, laws, and leaders should be judged, according to Equality Illinois. “President Obama’s executive orders are to be applauded for their expansive coverage,” said Bernard Cherkasov, CEO of Equality Illinois, who attended the signing ceremony in the White House East Room. “The President also resisted …
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 »
Gov. Pat Quinn on June 26, 2014 signed an important strengthening of anti-bullying law in Illinois, setting in place policies and procedures to protect all Illinois school children, including LGBT youth. This significant enhancement was made possible by the hard work of parents, sponsors Rep. Kelly Cassidy and Sen. Heather Steans, and advocacy groups such …
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 …
Please join Equality Illinois for a day of socializing with friends old and new, dining on delicious light bites, and sipping cocktails at the elegant Mayne Stage Theatre, 1328 W. Morse Avenue, Chicago. When: Sunday, May 4 from 3 to 6 pm The suggested event donation is $10, and there will be a cash bar and …
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 …