Celebrations Erupt In Chicago After High Court Affirmation Of Same-Sex Marriage
CHICAGO (CBS) -- The timing of the U.S. Supreme Court decision legalizing same-sex marriage nationwide couldn't have come at a better time for Chicago's gay community, which is celebrating Pride Weekend.
The 46th Annual Chicago Pride Parade is Sunday afternoon in Lakeview, and is certain to have an especially enthusiastic vibe in the wake of the Supreme Court's landmark ruling.
A celebration broke out on Chicago's North Side, CBS 2's Dana Kozlov reports.
At Sidetrack Bar in Boystown, it was also a toast to the future. Among the dignitaries on hand were Chicago Mayor Rahm Emanuel and Cook County Clerk David Orr.
Orr's office has married about 7,500 same-sex couples, and about one quarter of them came from other states. Friday's ruling, he says, evens out the marriage playing field.
"The real value of the court decision, besides saying it's the law of the land, is now that you don't have to go shopping from state to state to figure out what your rights are," Orr said.
For newly married couple Laura and Brooke Ricketts -- yes, of the Ricketts family that owns the Cubs -- this is the best wedding present they could have received.
"It's overwhelming. There are no words to describe it," Laura Ricketts said.
Same-sex marriage already was legal in Illinois before the high court's ruling Friday, declaring same-sex partners have a constitutional right to marry, and striking down state bans on gay marriage. However, neighboring Missouri and Kentucky had bans on same-sex marriage that were invalidated by Friday's ruling.
Same-sex marriage was made legal in Indiana and Wisconsin last year, under a federal appeals court ruling. Iowa's highest court struck down its ban on same-sex marriage in 2007.
Standing on the street in Boystown, holding a single red rose, Vinny Cousineau was waiting for his husband Friday morning after learning of the Supreme Court's ruling.
"To celebrate that our marriage is now everywhere, and our future is not restricted. We don't have to look at a state map to figure out where we can retire," he said.
Cousineau said the court decision affected him viscerally.
"I was shocked at how emotional I was. I knew in my head it was going to happen eventually, but I just sat there staring at the TV, staring at the screen. And I just started crying," he said.
Then his husband showed up. They kissed, and the celebration began.
Meantime, the head of a local religious group said they have serious concerns about the Supreme Court decision.
Illinois Family Institute executive director David Smith said he's disappointed with the ruling.
"The Supreme Court has stripped all Americans of our freedom to debate and decide marriage policy through the democratic process," he said. "They overrode the considered judgment of tens of millions of Americans who went to the voting booth and said marriage is one man, one woman."
Smith said it's an issue of religious freedom; with bakers, florists, and photographers possibly being compelled to help celebrate something they feel is immoral.