A more perfect union: Chicago hosts ceremony for same-sex couples - 726 - Gay Lesbian Bi Trans News

The morning started off chilly and gray, but by the time the first civil union was declared at 10:13 a.m. on June 2, the sun had come out and the ground on Millennium Park's Wrigley Square had been littered with rose petals. The event, "Unions in the Park" was an unqualified success, with dozens of media covering the event.

"I promise to truly see you and hear you, holding our bond above all others," Nicole Bechaka told Staci Slattery in front of their family and friends. Moments later, a circuit court judge declared them spouses.

Many more photos by Kat Fitzgerald at www.windycitymediagroup.com/gay/lesbian/news/ARTICLE.php?AID=32085

And more photos by Linda Ramos at www.windycitymediagroup.com/gay/lesbian/news/ARTICLE.php?AID=32104

Emotions ran high as an estimated 36 same-sex couples were unionized before a crowd of hundreds, just one day after the Illinois Religious Freedom Protect and Civil Union Act granted state recognition to Illinois same-sex couples for the first time.

Quadree Holmes shook tearfully as he was unionized with his partner, Troy. Vernita Gray smiled wide-eyed as she exchanged rings with her partner, Pat Ewert. Jim Darby seemed to bounce giddily as he was joined with Patrick Bova, his partner of 47 years.

"To be here not protesting, here in the sunlight in Millennium Park in front of the mayor and governor, it really is remarkable," said Art Jonhston, a founder of Equality Illinois and owner of Lake View's Sidetrack bar. Johnston got a civil union with his partner of 38 years, José ( Pepe ) Peña.

The Chicago Gay Men's Chorus kicked off the ceremonies and a string quartet from Stitely Entertainment provided background music before the ceremonies.

Several public officials attended the event. Among them were openly gay state Reps. Greg Harris and Deborah Mell, who sponsored the civil-union bill in the House, and new Rep. Kelly Cassidy; openly gay Ald. James Cappleman and Tom Tunney; Lieutenant Gov. Sheila Simon; and Circuit Court Clerk Dorothy Brown.

Jeff Zacharias said he and his partner, Bradd Easton, decided to get a civil union in Millennium Park because they want show the world what families can look like. The couple has a 14-year-old together, and their parents came to witness the big day.

Longtime LGBT activist Vernita Gray said that, for her, the day had been a long time coming. "I've been thinking about this day since 1969 … that's when I came out," she said. Gray looked around the park, "I can barely blink. I can't stop looking," she said laughing. "There's more people getting married here than I marched with in the first gay pride parade."

Among those unionized were Mona Noriega, the newly appointed Commissioner of the Department on Human Relations and her partner Evette Cardona who co-founded Amigas Latinas. Steve McDonagh and Dan Smith, known professionally as culinary specialists The Hearty Boys, were also joined, as were Janean Watkins and Lakeesha Harris, the first Chicago couple to obtain civil-union licenses June 1.

At the far end of the park, at Michigan Avenue and Washington Street, a handful of protesters stood quietly protected by police with anti-gay banners in hand. Few paid them any attention, and some attendees even remarked that they were relieved that protesters didn't show, illustrating how little impact the protests had on the day's festivities.

Gov. Pat Quinn was on hand to congratulate the couples. "This is one of the most important bills that has been passed in anyone's memory," Quinn said. "This is indeed a historic day, a special day, a day that all of us in the land of Lincoln can celebrate. … There are all kinds of different families in Illinois, but we are the family of Illinois … we understand that it's very important to have civil rights and civil unions."

Chicago Mayor Rahm Emanuel also attended the event to offer his best wishes. "I think that I can say this as a veteran of marriage, it has been a long journey here and to all those who are about to get married and join in civil unions, you have a fruitful journey going forward from the journey that got you to this point," Emanuel said. "And with all of us, you have our blessing."

Mayor Emanuel also officiated at a ceremony earlier that day for his chief of policy and strategic planning, David Spielfogel, and partner Lee Crandell.

PFLAG ( Parents and Friends of Lesbians and Gays ) also came to show support. Connie Dugan said she had been up until 2 a.m. the night before crying because she was so happy. John Cepek, a PFLAG dad, said that seeing the couples unionized just made him want to work harder for marriage equality.

Illinois is the sixth state to grant same-sex couples significant partner recognition. All couples in Illinois who have married or unionized elsewhere will automatically be entered into a civil union. Illinois civil unions grant same- and opposite-sex couples most of the benefits of marriage. However, Illinois civil unions might not be recognized in states that don't offer similar protections for same-sex couples, and because of the federal Defense of Marriage Act, no federal benefits come with the state's union certificate.

While the day was celebratory, most seemed to agree that civil unions were a stepping stone, not an endpoint in a fight for full LGBT equality.

"The next job we have to do is really push for equal marriage," said activist Rick Garcia, who was instrumental in getting the civil-unions bill passed. "It's no longer a scary foreign concept. It's a reality."

Art Johnston said he is also looking forward to the day when he and Peña can wed. The two want to get married, but say they refuse to leave to state to do it. "We're Illinoisans. We're Chicagoans," Johnston said. "We'll do it here when it's legal."

Newly joined couples were treated to a private reception host by Equality Illinois and Lambda Legal at the Chicago Cultural Center.

The event hosts were the City of Chicago Commission on Human Relations Advisory Council on Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender Issues and the Chicago Department of Cultural Affairs and Special Events in partnership with the Chicago Office of Tourism & Culture, Cook County Clerk David Orr's Office, Lambda Legal, Equality Illinois, and the Alliance of Illinois Judges.

[ UPDATE: As of June 6, Cook County reported that there had been 366 civil union licenses issued; 203 of those had been issued on the first day the law was in place, June 1. ]

SIDEBAR:

Couples at the June 2 'Unions in the Park' event

The list of couples participating in the June 2, 2011 Unions in the Park event is below. Several couples were allowed to join at the last minute, so the formal number of those getting unions was either 35 or 36.

Speakers included Jim Bennett of Lambda Legal announcing the couples and emcee Gaylon Alcaraz, representing the Advisory Council. Bill Greaves, director of the Advisory Council, was also among the event organizers.

The officiants were judges if the Circuit Court of Cook County, led by Chief Judge Timothy Evans. The others were judges who are part of the LGBT group Alliance of Illinois Judges, with President Jim Snyder and Vice President Colleen Sheehan. Other judges officiating: retired Judge Tom Chiola, Stuart Katz, Patricia Logue, Michael McHale, Mary Colleen Roberts, Andrea Schleifer, Lori Wolfson and Mary Trew. Rev. Laura McLeod also officiated.

The couples "united" were:

Frank Baiocchi and Robert Hunt

Jenny Blake and Susan Blake

Kimberly Broach and Hadasaw Price

James Darby and Patrick Bova

Paul Dombrowski and Joe Serio

Bradd Easton and Jeff Zacharias

Shirley Lee Edwards and Rev. Brenda Lee

Jaime Garcia and Daryl Rizzo

Ted Grady and Dr. Ross Slotten

Vernita Gray and Pat Ewert

Laura Hartman and Anne Dickey