Toward marriage equality in Illinois

Lambda Legal and the ACLU of Illinois filed suit against the Clerk of Cook County, where Chicago is located, arguing that the refusal to issue marriage licenses to gay and lesbian couples violates the equal protection and due process clauses of the Illinois Constitution. The suit is on behalf of 25 couples from around the state. The video above profiles some of them.

A bill to enact marriage equality stalled in the Illinois House of Representatives, though it’s almost certain to pass—eventually. However, how much harm will be done to same-sex couples and their families in the years before that happens? The lawsuit could speed up the process, one way or another. Still, all supporters of equality—including me—would prefer that the legislature act.

Illinois Governor Pat Quinn supports marriage equality, as does Illinois citizen Barack Obama. The office of Cook County Clerk David Orr, who is the defendant in the suit, issued a statement: "The time is long past due for the state of Illinois to allow county clerks to issue marriage license to couples who want to make their commitment. I hope these lawsuits are the last hurdle to achieving equal marriage rights for all." Me, too.

Predictably, the anti-gay industry and anti-gay religious extremists have chimed in with their usual noise. Read any similar story to this one for their boring, cookie-cutter, boilerplate responses.

Marriage equality will inevitably come to my native state—the sooner the better.