First Gay Wedding Ceremonies in Illinois

The first same-sex couples in Illinois were married, in Cook County, last Friday. Just hours after the U.S. District Judge Sharon Johnson Coleman ruled that there was no reason for homosexual couples to wait for marriage until June, which is when an Illinois law goes into effect making gay marriage legal.

Then, same-sex couples can get a marriage license in Illinois although the ruling applies only to Cook County. However, gay couples can get their license in that county if they also are married there.

On Friday, only the downtown county's office issued same-sex marriage licenses, but the rest of offices will begin issuing licenses on Monday. For this reason, extra staff will be brought in to cover the longer hours.

Theresa and Mercedes show their License of Marriage

Remember that Gov. Pat Quinn signed the state's same-sex marriage bill into law last November 20.

Equality marriage and equality rights!

(Via Benja Aquila's blog)