Photo: Courtesy Facebook.Well, this was somewhat unexpected. In a great way to end the week, a judge has declared same-sex marriage legal in Chicago immediately. “Why should we wait?" said District Court Judge Sharon Johnson Coleman after speeding up the scheduled June 1 implementation of the long-awaited change.
Given the importance, it seems appropriate to further quote her decision. “Since the parties agree that marriage is a fundamental right available to all individuals and should not be denied, the focus in this case shifts from the 'we can’t wait' for terminally ill individuals to 'why should we wait' for all gay and lesbian couples that want to marry.” So true. “To paraphrase Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.: The time is always ripe to do right.” Apparently, that time came early Friday afternoon.
In case you're wondering, NBC News reports that Cook County Clerk's office is extending its hours to 7 p.m. to allow couples (perhaps including some of these) to celebrate this day by getting their marriage licenses, which is very, very cool of them. Get your license today, and you can have a legal wedding tomorrow!
Looking at the way such similar news was received in New York and San Francisco, expect bars and the streets to be filled with revelers toasting the move — despite the chance of snow tonight. We'll be out there, for sure. (NBC News)