April 25, 2014
Group Lists Ill. Clergy Ready to Perform Gay Marriages
Jason St. Amand READ TIME: 1 MIN.
An advocacy group has put together a list of Illinois religious clergy who are ready to perform same-sex marriages.
A state law legalizing same-sex marriage takes effect June 1. However, some counties are already issuing marriage licenses after a federal judge ruled Illinois' original ban was unconstitutional.
The rights group Equality Illinois said Thursday it has posted a pamphlet on its website listing Christian, Jewish, Muslim religious leaders ready to officiate same-sex weddings.
The group's CEO is Bernard Cherkasov. He says "many couples who have waited - in some cases for decades - to have their love recognized by the state also want to have their marriage vows sanctified in a religious setting."
The new law does not require clergy members to officiate same-sex marriages.
Online: www.eqil.org/marriage
