Longtime Chicago gay activists John Pennycuff and Robert Castillo were the first in line to sign up for the Cook County Domestic Partnership Registry Oct. 1. They took turns waiting starting at midnight, and at 8:30 a.m. they became the first gay couple to have their relationship validated by Cook County government.
Cook County Clerk David Orr was on hand to issue the historic certificate, as were dozens of media outlets, cameras flashing as the couple—both now in the city's Gay and Lesbian Hall of Fame—kissed for the crowd of county workers.
Cook County Commissioner Mike Quigley, who pushed the measure through the County Board earlier this year, thanked his fellow commissioners who lobbied and voted for the same-sex partners registry. While the paperwork is viewed as largely symbolic, it can also play a critical role in helping to prove a relationship exists in applying for health insurance, in custody and estate cases.
As of late morning Oct. 1, 44 couples had registered, and more than 70 had done so by the end of the first day.
A special reception was held at a neighboring restaurant, underwritten by Equality Illinois, the Service Employees International Union, U.S. Senate candidate Blair Hull and Cook County. Many local groups and businesses co-hosted the event.
Speakers included Cook County State's Attorney GLBT liaison Vernita Gray (her boss, State's Attorney Dick Devine, was there—and two of his other employees, Mike McHale and Kelly Cassidy, signed up with their domestic partners that morning). Both Quigley and Orr addressed the crowd, as did Pat Logue, acting national legal director of Lambda Legal Defense, EI Political Director Rick Garcia, and Clerk of the Circuit Court Dorothy Brown. William Greaves represented Mayor Daley as his GLBT liaison, Recorder of Deeds Eugene Moore attended, and gay pols at the event included Oak Park Mayor Joanne Trapani, state Rep. Larry McKeon, Ald. Tom Tunney and Judge Lori Wolfson.
Pennycuff and Castillo carried a photo taken by Nightlines more than 10 years ago when they were part of a marriage protest at the same facility. While many well-known activists got hitched at the Clerk's office, many of those signing up were making their first public actions.
'This is important for a lot of us,' Castillo told the media as Pennycuff, office manager for Windy City Times, held his certificate high. 'It's a long time coming. A lot of us don't get the support of our family.'
Orr conveyed the best wishes of U.S. Rep. Jan Schakowsky, who passed a Congressional resolution praising the County's registry.
'[I am the only] Clerk in the state empowered to marry people. I am hoping some day I get a chance to marry someone here,' Orr said, confirming what everyone in the room knew—that a partnership registry is far less than actual marriage.
'I want to thank Pat Robertson, who said we need longterm, committed, loving relationships,' Quigley joked. 'It is awkward to be thanked for something we should have had all along. I hope some day my children and grandchildren say to me, 'what the heck was this noise about.''
'Twenty two years ago gays were booed out of the City Council. Today, the Cubs are winning and we have this—someone needs to check the thermostat in hell,' Quigley joked. 'It just shows, nothing happens over night.'
Lesbian Community Cancer Project Executive Director Jessica Halem provided a toast, 'To the power of two people to love each other,' and said next it's on to health insurance and social security.
'We know that this registry does not convey any rights or privileges,' said EI's Garcia. 'This registry, on one hand, means little. On the other hand, it means everything. Cook County recognizes and values its gay and lesbian citizens, our lives and our families.'
Lambda's Logue emphasized the importance of the U.S. Supreme Court ruling striking down sodomy laws, and how the decision makes GLBTs feel a part of society.
Vernita Gray, in closing out the reception, thanked Stonewall trans activist Sylvia Rivera, who said we have the right to gather and come together. 'There is only one line to pay income tax, social security and state taxes. So we need to get in that one line that says marriage. I want to thank Sylvia. She ran in those heels ... and we come now in the heel prints of her work,' Gray concluded.