Judge Allows Terminally Ill Chicago Woman To Marry Her Parter Before Gay Marriage Law Takes Effect

Start your day with TPM.
Sign up for the Morning Memo newsletter

CHICAGO (AP) — A federal court ruling means a same-sex Chicago couple will be allowed to marry before the state’s gay marriage law takes effect.

U.S. District Judge Thomas Durkin on Monday ordered the Cook County clerk to issue an expedited marriage license to Vernita Gray and Patricia Ewert. Gray is terminally ill.

County Clerk David Orr said he’ll comply with the order.

Illinois’ gay marriage law takes effect June 1. But the gay rights group Lambda Legal and the American Civil Liberties Union of Illinois filed a lawsuit seeking immediate action for Gray and Ewert. Gray has cancer in her brain and bones.

Camilla Taylor of Lambda Legal says Gray wants to marry the woman she loves before she dies.

Orr notes expedited licenses are granted to heterosexual couples in similar situations.

Copyright 2013 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

Photo via Facebook / Vernita Gray

Latest News
Comments
Masthead Masthead
Founder & Editor-in-Chief:
Executive Editor:
Managing Editor:
Associate Editor:
Editor at Large:
General Counsel:
Publisher:
Head of Product:
Director of Technology:
Associate Publisher:
Front End Developer:
Senior Designer: