News & Commentary

An article in The Chicago Tribune on Sunday rehashes the chain of events that happened leading up to the passage of the marriage bill last Tuesday. Once the bill is signed by Governor Quinn later this month, same-sex couples will be able to legally wed in Illinois beginning in June of next year. The bill's sponsors were unsure of whether or not they had enough votes to win when the bill was called, as there were a handful of legislators on the fence.

The Chicago Sun-Times published an editorial featuring ACLU of Illinois clients Danielle Cook and Suzie Hutton, who were in Springfield yesterday when the historic vote came down in the Illinois House granting the freedom to marry for same-sex couples. Danielle and Suzie are plaintiffs in Lazaro v. Orr, which will likely be dismissed after the Governor signs the bill into law.

The Chicago Tribune posted an article about yesterday's vote to grant the freedom to marry to same-sex Illinois couples. The ACLU of Illinois sought to win marriage equality not only in the legislature, but also in the court case of Lazaro v. Orr, in which the ACLU represented nine couples seeking to be married. The case will now become moot once the Governor signs the marriage bill into law. The Tribune spoke with our very own Communications and Policy Director Ed Yohnka:

The Daily Herald has a great play-by-play piece on yesterday's vote on the marriage bill in the Illinois House. Once the Governor signs the bill (SB 10), same-sex couples in Illinois will be able to wed beginning on June 1, 2014. The ACLU of Illinois worked as part of the Illinois Unites for Marriage campaign to help lobby and advocate for the freedom to marry, and also represents nine Illinois couples in Lazaro v. Orr, which will likely be dismissed once the bill is officially law.

The Windy City Times covered yesterdays debate and vote to pass the marriage bill (SB 10) which will permit the freedom to marry for same-sex couples in Illinois. The ACLU of Illinois is proud to have partnered with the Illinois Unites for Marriage campaign and is grateful to the bill sponsors, Representative Greg Harris and Senator Heather Steans for their tireless work to pass the bill in both chambers. Thank the bill sponsors now!

Yesterday the Illinois legislature gave same-sex couples the freedom to marry, making Illinois the 15th state (plus the District of Columbia) to do so, and the 9th new marriage state in just the last 12 months. With Illinois, over 37% of the American population lives in a freedom-to-marry state, up from 11% a year ago. The march towards equality is turning into a stampede!

The Illinois legislature passed the “Illinois Religious Freedom Protection and Marriage Fairness Act.” Below are answers to frequently asked questions about the new marriage law and about the recent court decision ordering the Cook County Clerk to immediately issue marriage licenses.

Statement of John Knight, Director, LGBT Project of the American Civil Liberties Union of Illinois

Capitol Fax helped to promote a video for the Illinois Unites for Marriage campaign about Illinois couple Chai and Mandi, who have two daughters together, and are seeking the freedom to marry so that they can enjoy the same protections that any other loving couple would receive in this state. Watch the video below: