News & Commentary

The Belleville News-Democrat has an editorial today juxtaposing the unique educational approach at Ellis school in Round Lake, and the fight for the freedom to marry for same-sex couples in Illinois. Ellis school started forming younger and older students, along with teachers, to form "families" that can support each other throughout the school year. The editorial goes on to pose the question: "who gets to define 'family?'"

It's been close to 3 years since the exhilaration of seeing the Illinois General Assembly pass the civil union law and so very much has changed to make this country a more fair and equal place for lesbians and gay men. Even 3 years ago civil unions were not the end goal, but the Illinois legislature’s passage of that law still meant a great deal to us back then. We’d moved in Illinois from treating gays as criminals to be punished or deviants to be pitied to an understanding that lesbians and gays – like heterosexuals -- form loving committed families that our laws should recognize and protect. We couldn’t go as far as marriage, but civil unions were acceptable for the Illinois legislature at the end of 2010. But with great progress in states outside Illinois, changes in federal law and policy, and the sea change of public opinion across this country and in Illinois, it’s a lot harder to get excited about civil unions than it was 3 years ago.

Eric Zorn's Chicago Tribune column Change of Subject tackled the issue of religious refusal as it relates to same-sex marriage. In looking ahead to a time when the freedom to marry is granted to all couples throughout the country, religious groups have argued that individual's religious beliefs will be infringed upon, if they are business owners whose services are solicited by a same-sex couple wanting to wed. They believe that religious business owners should be allowed to discriminate based on their religion.

The Chicago Tribune has an editorial today about the freedom to marry for all Illinois couples. In light of the recent New Jersey court ruling that legalized same-sex marriage, and on the heels of the death of DOMA, The Chicago Tribune is urging Illinois legislators to call the bill for a vote in the General Assembly.

The State Journal-Register posted an editorial urging the Illinois State House of Representatives to pass the marriage bill during veto session, which starts this week.  The article makes clear the distinction between a civil union and a marriage and how the civil union law does not provide the same protections that marriage would.

The Daily Herald published an editorial today, expressing support for the bill that would grant the freedom to marry to same-sex couples throughout Illinois. The bill is poised to be called during veto session.

The Sun-Times editorial board told the story of Lee Edwards and Brenda Lee, a couple seeking the freedom to marry, in an editorial in support of Senate Bill 10. Edwards and Lee have a civil union, but seek the respect and dignity that only come with the status of a civil marriage:

Laura Washington of the Chicago Sun-Times interviewed Rev. Benjamin Ledell Reynolds, faith director of Illinois Unites for Marriage. Rev. Reynolds discussed his faith journey and support for Senate Bill 10, which would bring the freedom to marry to Illinois:

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.