Lambda Legal, with area faith-based and community organizations, will celebrate National Freedom to Marry Day, Feb. 12 with Chicago's Annual Freedom to Marry Reception, at High Risk Gallery, 1113 W. Belmont 7-9 p.m. Guests are asked to honor the lives and commitments of Chicago-area same-sex couples by bringing signed copies of the Marriage Resolution, a one-sentence statement of support for the freedom to marry.
Coming only a few months after Lambda Legal filed a marriage lawsuit in New Jersey on behalf of seven couples who have been together between 10 and 30 years, Chicago's Freedom to Marry Reception offers couples and single people, gay and straight, an opportunity to share an evening of celebration with friends, family, faith leaders, colleagues, and neighbors allied in the struggle for civil same-sex marriage. Guests will have the opportunity to hear Saundra Heath and Alicia Toby, plaintiffs in the New Jersey same-sex marriage lawsuit, talk about their fight for equality.
In the days leading up to Feb. 12, wedding parties led by same-sex couples in tuxedoes or wedding gowns will stroll through Lakeview, the Loop, and Andersonville.
See www.lambdalegal.org .
Organizations participating: The Advisory Council on LGBT Issues for the City of Chicago, Amigas Latinas, Association of Latin Men for Action, Broadway United Methodist Church, Chicago Anti-Bashing Network, Chicago Free Press, Chicago Professional Networking Association, Church of the Open Door, Congregation Or Chadash, DePaul Law School's Women's Law Caucus and National Lawyers Guild and ACLU chapter, www.dykediva.com, Dignity/Chicago, Equality Illinois, The Evangelical Diocese of the Northwest, Gaylaw at Chicago-Kent College of Law, Grace Baptist Church, Loyola Lambdas, Interweave at Unity Temple, PFLAG Council for Northern Illinois, Praise Center Chicago COFC, Rainbow Families, OutLaw from the University of Chicago Law School, and Windy City Media Group.
Strolling Wedding Parties:
Jan. 31 - Friday, 4:30 - 6:30 p.m. - Lakeview
Feb. 1 - Saturday, 12n - 2 p.m. - Michigan Avenue / Loop
Feb. 9 - Sunday, 12n - 2 p.m. – Andersonville
Freedom to Marry Reception:
Wednesday, Feb. 12, 7-9 p.m., High Risk Gallery, 1113 W. Belmont, Chicago