About 150 people protested outside the Cook County Building in favor ofsame-sex marriage Thursday, March 11. At about the same time, gay andlesbian elected officials and their allies were at a press conferencedowntown to sign a letter to be sent to U.S. J. Dennis Hastert (R-Ill.).They want Hastert, Speaker of the U.S. House, to work to stop the pendingamendment to the U.S. Constitution to ban same-sex marriage (and potentiallyerase other gay-rights gains). Cook County Clerk David Orr said he mustfollow the law and can not issue marriage licenses to gays and lesbians; hedoes want those marriages and said he is working with attorneys to try andfight the Illinois ban through the courts. State Rep. Larry McKeon, Ald. TomTunney, Oak Park Mayor Joanne Trapani and others signed the pledge againstthe amendment. A few officials, including Orr, Tunney and McKeon, thenwalked to where the ralliers were re-gathered, at Federal Plaza, to readtheir statement to the crowd. But the crowd taunted back that they wantedmarriages now. The situation grew uncomfortable as Orr left, followed by thechanting crowd several blocks back to his County office. Orr said anyone whowould be married would risk being arrested, and anyone issuing the licensescould also risk arrest. Deborah Mell, openly lesbian daughter of Ald. DickMell, was among those at both events.
Cook County Building Protest for Marriage
