Ill. Gov. Pat Quinn
A judge ruled Friday that same-sex couples can begin marrying now in Cook County that includes Chicago.
“There is no reason to delay further when no opposition has been presented to this Court, and committed gay and lesbian couples have already suffered from the denial of their fundamental right to marry,” U.S. District Judge Sharon Johnson Coleman said.
Same-sex marriage was scheduled to begin in the state on June 1 as a result of legislation passed last fall. Illinois Gov. Pat Quinn signed the law in November.
Cook County Clerk David Orr, who filed a brief in favor of the lawsuit to push up the date, said he would begin issuing licenses immediately.
