The Chicago Tribune wrote about Illinois Attorney General Lisa Madigan's recent statement of support for the marriage case, Lazaro and Matos v. Orr, in which the ACLU of Illinois is representing nine same-sex couples who wish to be married.

The lawsuits, filed Wednesday by the gay rights group Lambda Legal and the American Civil Liberties Union of Illinois, are against the clerk of Cook County and claim that his refusal to issue marriage licenses to same-sex couples violates those couples' rights to due process and equal protection under the state's constitution.

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Date

Tuesday, June 5, 2012 - 5:49pm

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Al igual de muchas de las parejas en nuestra sociedad ocupada, Michelle Mascaro y Corynne Romine conocido en el trabajo- cuando ambos estaban en un internado de la capellanía en el Rush Presbyterian Hospital. Desde ese momento, a principios de 1991, Corynne y Michelle han creado una relación de amor, dando que ahora incorpora a sus tres hijos, de edades 14, 12 y 11. Para Michelle y Corynne, una de las cosas más dolorosas de no tener el honor de su relación como un matrimonio en Illinois es el impacto en sus hijos de aprender que sus padres no pueden casarse.

“A medida que nuestras hijos maduran, estamos tratando de ensenarles importantes lecciones de vida sobre la honra de relacione y la respeta de la unidad familiar,” dice Michelle. “Es difícil transmitir un mensaje sobre la importancia del matrimonio cunado se les niega el derecho a entrar en uno.” Corynne y Michelle reconocen la importancia del matrimonio después de haber visto a través de sus padres. Corynne señala que sus padres han estado casados por más de medio siglo, y ha visto “como el matrimonio y el compromiso del matrimonio puede ayudar a lidiar con los subidas y bajadas que son simplemente una parte de la vida.”

Michelle y Corynne tuvieron una celebración privada y la afirmación de su amor en su casa en 1995. Después de hacer ese compromiso, comenzaron una familia, la adopción de la primera de sus tres hijos. Hoy en día, pasan el tiempo tanto como sea posible con los niños- y gastar una gran cantidad de tiempo asistiendo a los eventos en la escuela de sus hijos, la iglesia, equipos deportivos y otras actividades.

Después de Illinois aprobó la unión civil, Corynne y Michelle no estaban seguras sobre la búsqueda de ese estado. Ellos querían casarse. Después de seis mese completos, el 6 de enero de 2012, Michelle y Corynne junto con sus hijos viajaron a Chicago para obtener una unión civil. La fecha era importante para ellas- para el que marco el 20 aniversario de su convivencia como pareja.

Corynne y Michelle saben que su unión civil se aborda algunas preocupaciones acerca de los beneficios, pero también no sientan que es suficiente. Al tomar uno de sus hijos a una cita o ir al medico a si mismos, a menudo se enfrentan a formas que preguntarles si están “casadas, solteras, divorciadas o viudas.” Incluso después de la aprobación de las uniones civiles, las formas les recuerdan que su relación no se comprende ni se acepta y se pasa por alto fácilmente.

Para ellos y sus hijos, Michelle y Corynne quieren la oportunidad de afirmar públicamente su compromiso en el matrimonio.

Date

Tuesday, June 5, 2012 - 4:15pm

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"I just want to be married to the person that I love."

That is what Tanya Lazaro, a 13-year veteran (and Detective) in the Chicago Police Department told the Chicago Sun Times as part of an interview for a story in this morning’s paper announcing that the ACLU and the ACLU of Illinois have filed a lawsuit seeking the freedom to marry for same-sex couples in Illinois. The lawsuit is being coordinated with Lambda Legal, which filed a similar suit on behalf of additional couples today.

The ACLU represents nine couples in all.   The diverse group ranges in age from their 30s to their 70s. They live throughout Illinois – from a Chicago northern suburb all the way to Marion in Southern Illinois. Some have children. Others do not. One couple has 22 grandchildren – with another on the way. Yet they all share the hope and aspiration for the dignity and recognition of their loving, committed relationships that only marriage can provide. Yes, they all simply want to marry the person that they love.

Among the plaintiffs are Edwin Hamilton and Gary Magruder who have been together a remarkable 48 years. Ed speaks eloquently and passionately of wanting his marriage to Gary in Canada to be recognized in his home state so he can enjoy his “golden years” married to the person he loves.

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Randy Walden and his future husband Robert Carey of Springfield know that only marriage will insure that they do not re-live the horrific circumstances that Randy faced when his long-time partner, Curt, died of cancer. Whenever Curt was hospitalized, personnel regularly challenged their relationship, ignoring Curt’s wishes to have Randy make health care decisions for him.  Randy was not permitted to spend the night with Curt in the hospital – that privilege was reserved only for spouses. He was denied information about Curt’s worsening condition until it was almost too late. One morning, Randy rushed to Curt’s bedside to find him nearing death.  Curt woke long enough to tell Randy that he loved him, the last words he ever spoke. Randy and Bob never want to face such a nightmare scenario.  No couple should have to.

Some of our clients sought civil unions after they became available – but found that they were a second-class status that many did not understand. Many officials didn’t understand what a civil union entailed. One couple told us that her employer required proof of the civil union for insurance coverage – though none of her straight colleagues could remember being asked to produce a marriage license. And that lack of understanding has consequences. One couple from Bloomington reports that when a co-worker attempted to mark their civil union by announcing it at a staff meeting, the co-worker stumbled over the words. She didn’t know whether to say that the couple had “gotten a civil union” or were “civil unionized.” To break the awkwardness, our client joked that “our relationship is now civilized.” Everyone laughed.

No one laughs when they hear that someone has gotten married. They simply applaud and congratulate the newlyweds. Our clients deserve that celebration that we readily associate with marriage and we look forward to the day when they and other lesbian and gay Illinoisans have the freedom to marry in Illinois.

Cross-posted from the ACLU's Blog of Rights.

Date

Wednesday, May 30, 2012 - 4:15pm

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