The Associated Press published an article about the ACLU of Illinois' lawsuit to challenge the constitutionality of a law that prohibits same-sex couples from marrying. Representing 9 couples from throughout the state, the ACLU will work along with Lambda Legal, who will represent an additional 16 couples, to argue that the Illinois constitution guarantees the right for same-sex marriage. Lead plaintiffs Tanya Lazaro and Liz Matos spoke with the AP:

Plaintiffs in the ACLU lawsuit, which includes nine couples, are Chicago police detective Tanya Lazaro and systems analyst Elizabeth Matos. The women, who've been together 15 years and have two children, reject the notion of a civil union.

"It's not the same thing as a marriage. We want our relationship, our love and our commitment we've shown for 15 years to be recognized like everybody else's," Lazaro said. "When you're growing up, you don't dream of civil unions."

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The Chicago Sun-Times ran a front page story about the ACLU of Illinois' lawsuit on behalf of 9 same-sex couples seeking recognition for their shared love and commitment by challenging the constitutionality of the state law that denies them the freedom to marry. The article profiles lead plaintiffs Tanya Lazaro and Liz Matos who are proud mothers of two children, and are committed to each other and to their family. Like the other plaintiff couples in the lawsuit, Tanya and Liz feel that civil unions create limits to the protection and recognition that full marriage would provide.

“A civil union to me didn’t represent that [bond], a marriage represents,” Lazaro said. “We contemplated getting a civil union just for our protection, for our children’s protection financially. But to me it did not represent a marriage and what I thought we were entitled to as citizens of this state and citizens of this country.”

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The Chicago Tribune broke the news of the lawsuit in which the ACLU of Illinois is representing 9 same-sex couples seeking the freedom to marry. The Illinois law allowing civil unions for same-sex couples which was granted last year, enabled each of the plaintiff couples to obtain civil unions. While it has been a great step forward, civil unions have also limited same-sex couples from the protections and recognitions associated with marriage. The Tribune spoke with LGBT and HIV Project Director and Attorney John Knight.

Attorneys from both groups filing the lawsuits argue that rather than leveling the playing field, civil unions have served to reinforce discrimination against gay and lesbian couples.

"We've had a year of civil unions," said Knight, the ACLU attorney. "We understand and have seen and talked to a number of people about the problems with civil unions. It's as we expected. You provide a different and new and not terribly understandable relationship status, and you send a pretty loud message that gay and lesbian couples aren't good enough for the honored tradition of marriage."

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