Orr, marriage backers anticipate 10,000 same-sex licenses

by Matt Simonette 2016-08-29 Windy City Times Just as attorney John Knight, of ACLU of Illinois, finished speaking at an Aug. 29 press conference heralding the 10,000th marriage license distributed to a same-sex couple in Cook County, County Clerk David Orr said, “I now forgive you for suing me.” While Orr was joking, his remark […]

State Rep. Greg Harris’ behind-the-scenes dealing brought adoption of same-sex marriage to Illinois

It was May 31, 2013, and the cause of same-sex marriage rights was gusting through America like a spring squall. Public opinion had recently swung around on the issue so dramatically that it took even its long-time proponents by surprise. The earlier trend of states outlawing gay marriage had completely looped back on itself in […]

Editorial: The slow, difficult task of historic change

By The Daily Herald Editorial Board History is not easily budged. The U.S. Constitution, now considered one of the pre-eminent civil rights documents in human history, was four years in the making and upon its final acceptance by a sharply divided delegation, ratification by the requisite nine colonies was by no means certain. In 1864, […]

Gay marriage bill-signing a victory for equality, defeat for intolerance

A huge crowd is expected Wednesday at the University of Illinois at Chicago to watch history unfold. After years of struggle and many false starts, Gov. Pat Quinn will sign Illinois’ same-sex marriage bill with great fanfare. At the same time, not to be outdone, a rogue bishop in Springfield will preside over a prayer […]

History was written by these victors: Brown

Sixty-one state representatives made history Tuesday in the Illinois House with their votes to legalize gay marriage, and it took practically every one of them to make it happen. But some deserve special recognition for the history books. Rep. Greg Harris, the Chicago Democrat who was the bill’s chief sponsor, was a noble figure, strong […]

Editorial: A historic vote

After several hours of deeply emotional and personal testimony, the Illinois House on Tuesday took a historic vote for personal freedom. The House approved same-sex marriage. The “yes” votes came from Chicago and the suburbs, from the Quad Cities and Peoria, from as far south as Collinsville. Many Democrats — and three Republicans — secured […]

Getting to ‘Yes’ on gay marriage

With just over a week before the fall legislative session in Springfield begins, a debate is brewing about whether to call the same-sex marriage bill for a vote, come what may. Supporters are achingly close to the 60 votes needed for passage in the Illinois House but appear still to be shy of the golden […]

Harris passes Politics 101, keeps gay marriage bill alive to fight another day

It would have been satisfying — or at least a minor consolation for a stinging defeat — had Democratic state Rep. Greg Harris of Chicago called for a vote Friday night in Springfield on his bill to legalize same-sex marriage. Satisfying in that it would have created a record for all time of those members […]

Editorial: Same-sex marriage: Almost there

The crowds who thought they’d come to Springfield to witness a historic moment were bitterly disappointed Friday when Rep. Greg Harris, D-Chicago, rose to acknowledge that he did not have the votes to pass a bill legalizing same-sex marriage in Illinois. Waving off shouted demands that he call a vote anyway, Harris promised to keep […]

Illinois House committee advances gay marriage bill

SPRINGFIELD—A bill legalizing gay marriage cleared a Democratic-led committee late Tuesday and now moves to the full House, where the issue is expected to meet its toughest test. The proposal, approved on a 6-5 vote in the House Executive Committee shortly before 10 p.m., is coming under increasingly heavy fire from church organizations who say […]