A group of Columbus, Ohio-area residents are organizing what they call a "marriage caravan" that will journey to Chicago Friday in order to get married.
The marriages will come following an April 4 announcement by a federal judge that he will order Ohio to recognize same-sex marriages performed in other states. The order will be officially handed down April 14.
The caravan is the brainchild of activist-donors Rick Neal and Tom Grote of Columbus, who have been a couple for eight years. They had a commitment ceremony in 2007, and were wed in Massachusetts last year
Neal said he and Grote, a co-founder of Equality Ohio, thought the decision "was very energizing," and wanted to do something to bring more marriages to Ohio in time for next week's release of the judicial order. He also said that it was a "not so subtle message" that many residents will not approve of the federal decision being appealed by the state attorney general, which is likely. So far, two lesbian couples are participating.
After a reception Thursday eveningwhich all jokingly refer to as 'the rehearsal dinner'the group will leave for Chicago Friday morning to obtain marriage licenses early that afternoon. Neal said they are working to obtain waivers to be exempt from the 24-hour waiting period required in Illinois so the couples can be married Friday as well.
"Ohio is a very warm place," Neal said. "People here are very nice. That's what's jarring when something like the marriage ban passes. I'm not saying that a referendum for gay marriage would pass if they held it today. There are well-funded opponents out there in this state."
The two couples were "super-excited" about Friday, he added. All are concerned with having as many legal protections as possible. One couple is eager to marry so they could begin the adoption process, while the other wants to shore up custody rights with their children.
Neal, who grew up in suburban Chicago, said that the long struggle for marriage equality in Illinois was inspiring to LGBT residents of other states. "The country has been watching the people who carried it out," he said.
Many Missouri gays and lesbians would often travel in groups to Iowa to marry, so Neal expects more gay and lesbian Ohioans to be making similar trips to Illinois. "I think we will see more of these caravans in the future."