Pictured Keith Charbonneau and Glenn Amoroso. Deborah Mell. Photos by Marie-Jo Proulx and Andrew Davis
Approximately 30 people showed up at the Cook County Building March 5 to demand that Cook County Clerk David Orr issue marriage licenses to same-sex couples. Organized by Equal Marriage Now!, the demonstration was meant as a repeat of last March's rally which had brought together 500 LGBT individuals and straight allies.
While a number of surprised heterosexual couples and their parties pulled up and filed inside, Andy Thayer of the Gay Liberation Network reminded the sign-carrying supporters of the need to keep up the fight for marriage equality. He insisted that David Orr's refusal to authorize marriage licenses is unconstitutional and praised the courage of San Francisco Mayor Gavin Newsom. Thayer also accused President Bush of using gay marriage as a distraction from his administration's failures on issues like poverty and the war in Iraq.
Meanwhile inside, John Pennycuff and Robert Castillo, a Chicago couple who obtained a San Francisco marriage license, waited in line for their turn to apply for one in their home city. Another couple, Keith Charbonneau and Glenn Amoroso, did the same. When they all reached the counter, the official who answered their request said a license would not be possible and refused even to take down their names. As the four men emerged from the Marriage Bureau, they were met by the rest of the group whose presence in the waiting line had by then attracted a handful of security guards and police officers. Castillo reported what had happened and led the small crowd in a chant for marriage rights before all returned to the sidewalk.
There were no confrontations with authorities this time. Deborah Mell, who last year had been arrested and was then bailed out by her father, Ald. Richard Mell ( 33rd ) , was among those who greeted the couples upon their exit from the county office. Kim Mongoven, lesbian rights Leader for Chicago NOW, and Bob Schwartz of the Gay Liberation Network were also there.
Back outside, the general disappointment had a sobering effect on the proceedings. Castillo was emotional when he expressed his frustration at being denied the basic civil rights that straight couples take for granted. But he promised that he and Pennycuff would remain active in the struggle for respect and equal legal recognition. After some commiserating and an invitation by Thayer to attend Equal Marriage Now!'s next meeting, people dispersed and the rally came to a cheerless end.
Equal Marriage NOW! Rally
and Press Conference
A few members of Equal Marriage NOW! held a press conference outside the Cook County Building, 118 N. Clark, March 3 to announce the March 5 rally.
Among the speakers was Deborah Mell, sister-in-law of Illinois Gov. Rod Blagojevich. She talked about 'religious terrorists who are hijacking moral values' and the denial of equal marriage as 'an injustice not only against gays and lesbians but also against our great society.'
Robert Castillo talked about being half of one of the 4,037 couples who were issued marriage licenses in San Francisco last year.
— Also contributing: Andrew Davis
