The Daily Herald wrote a feature about Kristen and Tanya Lyonsford, two plaintiffs and the ACLU of Illinois’ marriage suit. The interview was conducted in the Kristen and Tanya’s backyard, with their two children, 9-year-old Andrea and 7-year-old Zachary, played with each other in the background.

Kristen and Tanya met 13 years ago at an AT&T training seminar. Shortly after they met, the two went on a date where Kristen says she had a “flash” of her future: her and Tanya together, years down the line, with children, grandchildren, and everything in-between. Ten years later, the couple had a wedding ceremony, however, their marriage was not legally recognized by the state.

“I felt (the civil unions statute) was a step in the right direction. It wasn't what I truly wanted, but for some people, it's better than nothing,” Tanya Lyonsford said.

Ed Yohnka, Director of Communications and Public Policy for the ACLU, believes that now is the time to give all couples the freedom to marry.

“We still invite (lawmakers) to meet in Springfield tomorrow and pass this bill,” Ed Yohnka, spokesman for ACLU Illinois said. “But the truth is, sometimes when it's taking political leaders a little longer to move, you go to the courts.”

Read the whole thing.