Saturday, February 14, 2009 is a day that many couples will remember as Valentine’s Day of this year, but for a group of Chicagoans, it was Freedom to Marry Day. A group of peaceful protesters gathered outside the Cook County Building to demand their equal rights here in Chicago while a smaller group staged a sit-in inside the Cook County office of Vital Records, insisting that they would not leave until they office agreed to issue marriage licenses to homosexual couples.

The seven who remained inside the office were allowed to stay past the closing time of the office but were eventually arrested for criminal trespass. Later, County Clerk David Orr’s office issued a statement saying, “Gay couples deserve to enjoy the same rights and legal protections as straight couples, whether it be getting married or making emergency health decisions, filing a joint tax return or receiving retirement benefits to which they are entitled.” (ABC7 Chicago) That view, however, has yet to be reflected in practice.

Further coverage:

http://www.towleroad.com/2009/02/hundreds-protes.html
http://www.chicagopride.com/news/article.cfm/articleid/6876025
http://www.pamshouseblend.com/showDiary.do?diaryId=9489
http://www.examiner.com/x-443-Chicago-Gay-Examiner~y2009m2d15-7-queer-activists-arrested-at-Marriage-Bureau-sitin
http://blog.radioleft.com/blog/_archives/2009/2/15/4093964.html
http://joemygod.blogspot.com/2009/02/seven-arrests-at-chicago-marriage.html
http://www.windycitizen.com/chicago/politicscity-news/2009/02/freedom-to-marry-in-chicago-hundreds-rally-seven-arrested/