Gay marriage opponent: We've raised $1 million already for referendum

"Yesterday, there was a commitment of $1 million made to this campaign," said Joe Fuiten, senior pastor of the Cedar Park Assembly of God Church in Bothell. Fuiten is part of a coalition to overturn the likely gay marriage law. When asked who contributed the money, Fuiten said: "I'm not going to say, but it's been committed."...

Chicago Tribune • Feb 4, 2012

Washington state Senate passes gay marriage bill

The Washington state Senate passed legislation on Wednesday to legalize gay marriage in a highly charged vote that moved the state closer to joining six others and the District of Columbia in recognizing same-sex nuptials. The 28-21 vote in favor of the measure -- three more votes than needed for passage -- sent it on to the state's House of Representatives, where the bill is expected to win swif...

Chicago Tribune • Feb 2, 2012

Gay marriage play '8' goes national during 2012

The pro-gay marriage American Foundation for Equal Rights and partner Broadway Impact are sponsoring dozens of productions of Dustin Lance Black's play starring local actors across the country this election year. It'll be shown in states where marriage battles loom, including Maine, Maryland, New Hampshire and North Carolina. ...

Chicago Tribune • Jan 17, 2012

Demand still strong for civil union licenses in Cook County

On June 1, the day the civil unions law kicked in, the clerk's offices handed out 209 licenses. Since then the numbers have been smaller but steady, averaging 30 licenses per day from June 2 to June 30. ...

Chicago Tribune • Jul 19, 2011

As Catholic Charities bows out of foster care, secular agency steps up

State officials have been exploring whether religious agencies that get public money to license foster care parents are breaking anti-discrimination laws if they turn away openly gay parents. In addition to Catholic Charities in five regions, Lutheran Child and Family Services and the Evangelical Child and Family Agency have policies that exclude prospective parents who are openly gay. The religi...

Chicago Tribune • Jul 5, 2011

State says they can, so same-sex couples say 'I do'

Illinois is the sixth state to allow civil unions or their equivalent, which provide same-sex or opposite-sex couples the same state-level rights as married couples. Wednesday was the first day couples could get civil union licenses and, as with marriage, there is a one-day waiting period before a ceremony can be held. Outside one of the park entrances Thursday about a half-dozen protesters stood...

Chicago Tribune • Jun 3, 2011

Ind. lawmakers push for gay marriage amendment

Republican lawmakers in Indiana have resumed their push for a constitutional amendment that would shore up an existing state law banning gay marriage. A GOP-ruled House committee voted 8-4 along party lines today to advance the proposal, which now moves to the full House for consideration....

Chicago Tribune • Feb 8, 2011

Gay marriage in Iowa: Court ruling gives hope that Illinois could follow

"I think what we're seeing now is people greeting this progress as an opportunity to do marriage the way they always envisioned it, not under the pressure caused by newness or the threat that it might, at any moment, be taken away," said Evan Wolfson, executive director of the national advocacy group Freedom To Marry. "In some sense, I think we're seeing a more normalized response on the part of g...

Chicago Tribune • Apr 29, 2009

NH Sen. committee takes up gay marriage bill

At least 500 people crowded into New Hampshire's Statehouse on Wednesday for an emotional and sometimes boisterous Senate committee hearing over whether allowing gay marriage would weaken or strengthen the institution....

Chicago Tribune • Apr 15, 2009

Illinois gays not betting on marriage

Advocates for the gay and lesbian community in Illinois are rallying behind a civil unions bill sponsored by state Rep. Greg Harris (D- Chicago). The bill, which would grant same-sex couples many of the same rights as married couples, awaits a vote in the House and would then need to clear the Senate. This political path is similar to that taken by activists in Vermont, where gay marriage was leg...

Chicago Tribune • Apr 14, 2009

Wis. high court asked to review gay marriage vote

The Wisconsin Supreme Court was asked Thursday to decide whether the state's 2006 ban on gay marriage was properly put to voters. William McConkey, a University of Wisconsin-Oshkosh political science instructor, claims the referendum illegally put two issues to voters at the same time: whether to ban gay marriage and whether to outlaw civil unions. A Dane County judge dismissed the case last year...

Chicago Tribune • Apr 12, 2009

Lutheran task force recommends changing gay-clergy policy

If the assembly rejects the first measure to recognize monogamous gay unions, the remaining three will die. If the assembly approves, members will be asked if they want to permit clergy in committed same-gender relationships to work in churches that invite them to serve. The third step asks the church to respect the bound conscience of those who disagree. The fourth calls for change in policy tha...

Chicago Tribune • Feb 21, 2009