Gay Marriage Now Legal Statewide in Illinois
Gay and lesbian couples across Illinois can now legally wed as the state becomes the latest in the nation to allow same-sex marriage.
Sunday's celebration is anticlimactic for some, because 16 counties began issuing marriage licenses following a February federal court ruling.
Still, June 1 marks the first day all of Illinois' 102 counties can issue the licenses to same-sex couples. It's also the first day couples statewide who have civil unions can ask to convert those to a marriage.
There's no official number on how many couples have wed so far under the law Gov. Pat Quinn signed in November. But Equality Illinois, a gay-rights advocacy group, estimates about 1,300 same-sex licenses have been issued.
Bernard Cherkasov is the group's CEO. He calls Sunday "a history-making day in Illinois."
Latest Stories
- Roseland Ceasefire Encouraged by Decrease in Gun Violence Despite Federal Cuts
- ALDERMAN STEPHANIE COLEMAN TO BE JOINED BY MAYOR BRANDON JOHNSON, U.S. CONGRESSMAN JONATHAN JACKSON, AND VARIOUS ELECTED LEADERS IN KICKING OFF THE FIFTH ANNUAL ENGLEWOOD MUSIC FESTIVAL
- RainbowPUSH Coalition and The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints to Distribute 2,000 Bags of Food to Families in Need on Saturday
- Rainbow PUSH Coalition Urges Americans to Unite in Prayer, Solidarity, and Denouncement of Violence on the 24th Anniversary of the 9/11 Terrorist Attacks
- MATTESON MAYOR TO BECOME THE FIRST AFRICAN AMERICAN WOMAN TO HEAD THE ILLINOIS MUNICIPAL LEAGUE
Latest Podcast
Quandra-Urban Market Exchange
