Gov. Quinn details efforts to pass equal marriage

Hopefully between now and the 31st of May, Greg Harris, our sponsor, will find a moment to call the bill for a roll call....

Windy City Media Group • May 2, 2013

IL: marriage push expected soon after February return

The Senate sponsor behind a bill that would legalize same-sex marriage in Illinois says she hopes to move the bill shortly after the senate returns in early February. Sen. Heather Steans said that she is currently working on revisions to the bill. "We are working to address concerns expressed with particular language in the bill, and I expect we will take up the marriage bill sometime soon after ...

Windy City Media Group • Jan 30, 2013

No marriage vote in Springfield this week--UPDATE

Anthony Martinez, executive director of The Civil Rights Agenda, confirmed that Senate Democrats have stated that the vote will not come to pass Jan. 3 or 4. Repeated foibles have raised serious questions about whether the vote can pass by Jan. 9, when new lawmakers are sworn in....

Windy City Media Group • Jan 3, 2013

Ill. Marriage to be considered as early as tomorrow

The Senate will be in session Wednesday afternoon, and LGBT leaders say that a vote on a bill seeking gay marriage is likely to come sooner rather than later. Sen. Heather Steans tells Windy City Times that she wants to see a vote on Thursday....

Windy City Media Group • Jan 2, 2013

Illinois: Churches argue for intervention in marriage lawsuits

Two Illinois churches made their case for intervention in lawsuits that seek to overturn the state's ban on same-sex marriage Nov. 7. Representing both Grace-Gospel Fellowship of Bensenville and Church of Christian Liberty in Arlington Heights, attorney Jason Craddock said that both churches have a greater interest in the lawsuits than the general public and should therefore be allowed to defend t...

Windy City Media Group • Nov 7, 2012

IL: State Reps. introduce anti-gay marriage resolution

A group of Illinois lawmakers has introduced a resolution aimed at re-affirming the state's ban on same-sex marriage. ...

Windy City Media Group • Jul 30, 2012

SLDN: Boehner has no authority to intervene in DOMA case

"The Obama Administration has wisely decided not to defend these unconstitutional and discriminatory laws that hurt military families, and Speaker Boehner is attempting to appoint himself to a role that is expressly reserved to the executive branch of our government. We intend to fight the interference of the Speaker in this matter," said Army Veteran and SLDN Executive Director Aubrey Sarvis....

Windy City Media Group • May 9, 2012

Marriage Equality Bill introduced in Illinois

Illinois state representatives have filed a much-anticipated marriage equality bill in the Illinois General Assembly, local LGBT groups announced Feb. 8. Reps. Greg Harris, Deb Mell and Kelly Cassidy have introduced the Religious Freedom and Marriage Fairness Act, which would allow same-sex couples to marry in Illinois....

Windy City Media Group • Feb 10, 2012

Illinois legislators meeting on marriage equality

State representatives Greg Harris, Deb Mell, Ann Williams, Kelly Cassidy, Sara Feigenholtz and Senator Heather Steans are in talks with Illinois organizations about introducing a bill that would allow same-sex partners to marry in Illinois. According to Harris, the bill will not likely be introduced until at least 2013. Harris believes the fight will be difficult, especially as anti-gay political...

Windy City Media Group • Jan 10, 2012

HRC launches business coalition for DOMA repeal

HRC was proud to have supported GLAD in marshaling businesses to join this brief and today also announced it is forming a business coalition to support DOMA repeal as part of its "Americans for Marriage Equality" campaign. The Senate Judiciary Committee will continue consideration next week on the Respect for Marriage Act -- the bill to repeal DOMA -- and HRC will be sharing this strong business c...

Windy City Media Group • Nov 7, 2011

Local and nat'l politicians attend DOMA hearing

Politicians, activists and same-sex marriage supporters filled the seats of the City Council chambers Oct. 7 for a panel discussion on the impacts of the Defense of Marriage Act (DOMA) on same-sex couples. More than 75 people attended the morning event, which featured commentary from U.S. Reps. Mike Quigley, Luis V. Gutierrez and Jan Schakowsky as well as testimony from LGBT couples....

Windy City Media Group • Oct 12, 2011

Dept. of Revenue blocking joint filings by civil-union couples

Same-sex civil union partners who file taxes jointly in Illinois will be breaking the law, according to the Illinois Department of Revenue. On June 2, the same day that the state's first civil unions took place, the department posted a memo stating that same-sex couples must still file separate tax returns, even if they have had a civil union. Their reasoning, according to department spokeswoman...

Windy City Media Group • Jun 29, 2011

Millennium Park hosts civil unions

Emotions ran high as 35 same-sex couples were unionized before a crowd of hundreds, just one day after the Illinois Religious Freedom Protect and Civil Union Act granted state recognition to Illinois same-sex couples for the first time. ...

Windy City Media Group • Jun 3, 2011

Illinois: Civil-union ceremony with 30 couples to take place June 2

In celebration of the first day of civil-union ceremonies in Illinois, the City of Chicago Commission on Human Relations' Advisory Council on Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender Issues will host 30 ceremonies at 10 a.m. Thursday, June 2, in Wrigley Square at Millennium Park, at Randolph and Michigan. The Chicago Department of Cultural Affairs and Special Events--in partnership with the Chicago...

Windy City Media Group • May 7, 2011

Groundbreaking study on LGBT Parents Released by APA

Last week the American Psychological Association published Dr. Abbie E. Goldberg's Lesbian and Gay Parents and Their Children: Research on the Family Life Cycle, a comprehensive summary and analysis of the research on gay and lesbian parents and their families to date. Goldberg's new book is the first full-length analysis of the research on gay parenting, summarizing research data on the subject f...

Windy City Media Group • Sep 25, 2009