A federal judge ruled that same-sex couples were allowed to marry in Cook County, Ill., on Friday.
On Nov. 20, Gov. Pat Quinn signed the state's same-sex marriage bill into law, which granted same-sex couples the right to marry starting June 1.
But in her decision announced Friday, U.S. District Judge Sharon Johnson Coleman wrote,/a> "There is no reason to delay further when no opposition has been presented to this Court and committed gay and lesbian couples have already suffered from the denial of their fundamental right to marry."
This couple was allowed to marry weeks ago because of a medical exemption; they were the first couple to wed under this law.
Cook County, Ill. now giving marriage licenses to same-sex couples - http://t.co/99ffOlvUsE
But on Friday, dozens of other couples requested marriage license after a Judge Coleman ruled same-sex marriages could start immediately.
Only the downtown Cook County office began issuing same-sex marriage licenses on Friday, but all city offices will begin issuing licenses on Monday, the Chicago Tribune reports.
One of the four same-sex couples who have gotten their marriage licenses today in Cook County. #marriageequality
“THIS is the fee for a Cook County marriage license.” “Sixty bucks. It’s all there, pal." MT @Suntimes
Theresa Volpe and Mercedes Santos, pictured below with their 9-year-old daughter and 5-year-old son, finally wed on Saturday.
Previously, the couple was part of a lawsuit over gay union rights and had testified in Springfield, Ill., on behalf of gay marriage, the Tribune reported.
.@CookCountyClerk David Orr livetweeted as same-sex marriage licenses were issued today http://t.co/z6REPV8coe
Mercedes and Teresa married the third today. Cook county
On Saturday, more than 20 same-sex couples got married in the three hours the First Municipal District Marriage and Civil Union Court in downtown Chicago was open, Court Clerk Michele Roberts said.
First same-sex couple in line in Cook County to get marriage license - http://t.co/I2ZeTzEyqS -
"43 years" "That’s a long time to wait" Same-sex couples get married in Cook County http://t.co/aX4rG5Ne4N
Congratulations to the happy couples!
A total of 46 same-sex couples got marriage licenses in Cook County today http://t.co/x1DPaOmQFf @NilesILNews