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.”

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WPSD-TV did a feature on Tim Kee and Rick Wade, two plaintiffs in the ACLU of Illinois’ lawsuit that seeks to lift the ban in Illinois law that denies same-sex couples the freedom to marry. Rick and Tim report that when they learned that the ACLU of Illinois was contemplating a lawsuit seeking the freedom to marry, they jumped at the opportunity to be part of the effort.

"Freedom to live our lives the way we want to live our lives, openly and without prejudice," said Kee.

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The Chicago Tribune reported on the ACLU of Illinois’ lawsuit against the Bureau County Sheriff for not providing an inmate, Arick Buckles, with his HIV medication for a week. The ACLU has heard complaints like these before, and ACLU attorney John Knight wants to ensure that this practice stops.

"The ACLU regularly hears these complaints about jails and prisons," Knight said. HIV drugs are expensive and jail personnel don't always understand how important it is for patients to take them consistently. Bias against people infected with HIV contributes to the problem, Knight said.

Read the whole thing.