Couple Makes History in First Same-Sex Marriage in Illinois - Chicago Tribune
Longtime gay-rights activists and well-known Chicago couple Vernita Gray and Patricia Ewert were married Wednesday afternoon, in the state’s first legal same-sex wedding, officials said.
The two women exchanged vows in a short ceremony in the living room of their North Side apartment surrounded by nearly two dozen close friends and family, said Erik Roldan, a spokesman for Lambda Legal Defense and Education Fund, who attended the event.
The wedding, during which a friend sang “At Last,” by Etta James, was officiated by Cook County Circuit Court Associate Judge Patricia Logue.
“Every day is crucial for same-sex couples like Vernita and Pat, who may not be able to and shouldn’t have to wait until next summer to get married,” said Camilla Taylor, Marriage Project director for Lambda Legal. “We’re thankful for the swift action by the court and the Cook County Clerk’s office to allow this to happen as soon as possible, and we’re beyond thrilled for Vernita and Pat, who are now able to say ‘We’re married.’”
More: Couple Makes History in First Same-Sex Marriage in Illinois - Chicago Tribune