The Sun-Times editorial board told the story of Lee Edwards and Brenda Lee, a couple seeking the freedom to marry, in an editorial in support of Senate Bill 10. Edwards and Lee have a civil union, but seek the respect and dignity that only come with the status of a civil marriage:

Consider one lesbian couple who agreed to be a face of this effort for the Illinois Unites for Marriage coalition, Lee Edwards and Brenda Lee of Chicago’s South Shore neighborhood.

A couple for 10 years, they sat for a video where they explained how they caught each other’s eye at a barbecue, how they became friends and then fell in love, the beauty of the day they committed to each other in a civil union, but ultimately the inadequacy of that second-class recognition.

“It’s important for people to know this is real, that these are real people who really love each other,” Edwards, who works as a paralegal, told us. “For me, this is not a matter of being public, this is who I am and I’m not afraid to share that with anyone.”

Read the whole thing.

Laura Washington of the Chicago Sun-Times interviewed Rev. Benjamin Ledell Reynolds, faith director of Illinois Unites for Marriage. Rev. Reynolds discussed his faith journey and support for Senate Bill 10, which would bring the freedom to marry to Illinois:

The marriage bill may emerge this fall during the General Assembly’s veto session.

Reynolds, now 52 and a grandfather, argues that same-sex marriage rights will boost the community’s bottom line, ensuring all “the benefits to provide for their families.”

And the biblical argument? “For me, the Bible is the book of love.” As the sun streamed in our window, he paraphrased the “golden rule,” Matthew, 7:12. “Do to others what is done to you — what you want done to you.”

Read the whole thing.

The nominating committee of the ACLU Board of Directors has submitted its slate of nominees for the Board of Directors election to be held in November.

Incumbent directors nominated for re-election are:
Michael Brody, Heidi Dalenberg, James Holzhauer, Jill Metz, Kerry Miller, Roger Pascal, Lya Rosenblum, Robert Sash, Shyni Varghese and Cindy Wilson
 

New nominees are:
Roxana Espoz, Events Manager at Merit School of Music, Luis Gutierrez, Executive Director Latinos Progresando, Aziz Huq, Law Professor University of Chicago Law, Colby Kingsbury, Attorney, Faegre Baker Daniels, Ada Lopez, President, Strategic Alliance, Brian Richardson, Director Public Affairs, Chicago Department of Public Health

Additional candidates may be nominated by written petitions signed by twenty five members, submitted by October 2013. Nominations should be sent to ACLU Nominating Committee, ACLU of Illinois, 180 N. Michigan, Suite 2300, Chicago, IL 60601. Full biographies will be published in the winter issue of the Brief following the election.