All posts in category Blog Posts
Blog Posts
Cook County to begin issuing marriage licenses to same-sex couples immediately
February 21, 2014
Today, a federal judge ruled that the Cook County Clerk's office in Illinois can begin issuing marriage licenses to same-sex couples immediately, months ahead of the original June implementation date. Federal Judge Coleman ruled that Illinois couples can't wait to marry, and ordered Cook County to begin marrying couples immediately. 
Together, we build one of the largest grassroots campaigns in IL’s history
November 19, 2013
As thousands of supporters from across the State of Illinois get set to converge on Chicago for the enactment of Senate Bill 10, the Illinois Religious Freedom and Marriage Fairness Act, the Illinois Unites for Marriage Campaign today released a summary of its work, demonstrating in raw the numbers the grassroots' nature of the activity that led to passage of the bill. Governor Pat Quinn is set to sign SB10 at 3:00 p.m. on Wednesday, November 20, in front of an expected audience of 3,000 people at the University of Illinois-Chicago campus. Illinois Marriage Law FAQs by Lambda Legal and the ACLU
November 6, 2013
With all the excitement following Illinois becoming the 15th state to offer the freedom to marry also comes many questions! To learn more about the Illinois Religious Freedom and Marriage Fairness Act and its implementation, visit Lambda Legal and the ACLU's FAQs here. 
Victory in the Illinois House!
November 5, 2013
The Illinois House just passed the freedom to marry! In a vote count of 61:54, the Religious Freedom and Marriage Fairness Act passed on the House floor. The marriage bill now moves to the Senate for a procedural vote before Governor Quinn signs it into law. 
Rep. Jehan Gordon-Booth: Marriage equality “is the right course for our state”
This morning, Rep. Jehan Gordon-Booth, who has previously been undecided on SB10, announced that she will vote for marriage equality on the House floor.
Rep. Al Riley will vote for the freedom to marry
November 4, 2013
Rep. Al Riley -- who has previously not committed to a "yes" or "no" vote on SB10 -- announced this week that he will vote in favor of the marriage bill once it reaches the House floor. 
The Time is Now: Meet Tracy and Michelle Simon-Selander
Tracy Simon and Michelle Selander met the way a lot of married couples meet-- during college, at their alma mater of Northern Illinois University. The pair was introduced by their mutual friend in 1995. Though they did not immediately have a romantic relationship, the women were close friends for year and a half before they realized they were in love. “After graduation, we both moved back to our hometowns. It was during this time apart, we realized that we had something much more than friendship,” Michelle said. “I never wanted to be apart from Tracy. That was in 1997, and we have been very much in love ever since!”
Watch: The Time is Now for Illinois Families
November 1, 2013
Illinois families can't wait any longer for the freedom to marry. Lawmakers said they would return to Springfield in the fall to vote on marriage equality legislation -- and now, thousands of loving couples across the state are counting on them to keep their word. 
Only six days left
Six days. That's all we have left to win marriage equality for all Illinoisans.
Illinois Mayors join ‘Mayors 4 Marriage Equality,” urge legislators to pass SB10
October 29, 2013
Several mayors from cities and towns across Illinois signed onto a letter urging the Illinois House of Representatives to pass marriage equality during veto session, stating that “families cannot wait any longer for the State of Illinois to respect their freedom to marry.” Senate Bill 10 – the Religious Freedom and Marriage Fairness Act – won overwhelming, bipartisan passage in the Illinois Senate in February and currently awaits action in the House. 