The following is a letter to the editor of The Chicago Tribune penned by ACLU of Illinois plaintiffs Michelle Mascaro and Corynne Romine. Michelle and Corynne are clients in the lawsuit seeking the freedom to marry for same-sex Illinois couples.

A column by a lawyer fighting our lawsuit seeking the freedom to marry for lesbian and gay couples in Illinois demeans our family and the families of thousands of committed, loving, same-sex couples. Our commitment is founded on shared values and devotion to the well-being of each other and our three children. No one should be arrogant enough to think he or she knows what is best for our children, or to dismiss our relationship by equating it to a children's nursery rhyme.

We asked a Cook County court to strike down Illinois' current ban on the freedom to marry. Those seeking to defeat us argue that marriage is about children, and only different-sex couples can provide the homes children need. This view ignores the reality of modern family life — where families form in a variety of different ways.

Most important, suggesting that children suffer if we marry reveals ignorance about the way we live, and a deplorable lack of concern about the well-being of our own children and thousands of others who have same-sex parents.

Our lives have been transformed by our children. We see our children off to school and help with homework. We read together and go to church as a family. We take vacations and visit relatives. Our children are loved by our extended families — and they grieved at the loss of their grandparents. We are proof that caring for children, being a strong family, instilling values (like fairness and acceptance) do not require parents of different genders.

Opponents of the freedom to marry for same-sex couples cling to an outmoded view about parenting. But facts are facts: Based on more than 30 years of research, every major child welfare organization concludes that same-sex couples are just as well-suited to raising healthy successful children as are opposite-sex couples. The key is not the gender of the parents but the love and care provided to children.

In large part, we want to marry for the sake of our children. We want them to be able to grow up without being told by government that our family is not worth as much respect as other families are.

Our children are cared for each day by parents who love one another and love our children. Perhaps opponents need to spend a day with us to recognize this reality.

— Michelle Mascaro and Corynne Romine, Oak Park

An article over at The Juvenile Justice Information Exchange discusses the recent expert reports released in the case R.J. v. Bishop, which seeks to improve conditions for juvenile offenders incarcerated in facilities operated by the Illinois Department of Juvenile Justice.  The reports, which look at the areas of education, mental health, and safety and welfare respectively, were a result of a consent decree which called for a remedial plan to help move forward with implementing improvements within the facilities. The Juvenile Justice Information Exchange spoke with the ACLU of Illinois attorney Adam Schwartz:

ACLU lead attorney Adam Schwartz says the plaintiff’s side of the case was saddened but not surprised by the conclusions of the reports. “We think it’s all on target,” he said. “Our complaint alleged systemic problems in mental health care and other areas, and the experts found systemic problems in those areas.”

Schwartz expressed confidence that the ACLU and IDJJ “are on the road to reform. These reports are the beginning of the process and not the end of the process. We are going to spend the next four months preparing the remedial plan to submit to Judge Kennelly, and after that we’re going to spend years implementing and monitoring. We are optimistic that this process is going to work, and we look forward to working with the department to create systemic solutions to the systemic problems.”

Read the entire article.