US: Out-of-state couples struggle to marry in Illinois

Couples traveling across the border to marry in Illinois are finding themselves unable to, due to a provision written into the Illinois marriage law.

The provision — originally meant to prevent non-Illinois minors and close relatives from crossing state lines to marry — prevents individuals from being wed if the marriage would not be considered legal in their home state.

Lawmakers who sponsored the bill, allowing same-sex marriage to be legal, intend on fixing the problem. But with the legislature not in session, it will have to wait until next year.

Illinois Governor Pat Quinn signed the state’s equal marriage bill into law in December, however, same-sex weddings were technically only set to take place from June 1, 2014 when the law took effect.

But despite the 1 June start date, a Chicago federal judge in February ruled that the state’s ban on same-sex couples marrying was unconstitutional, opening the door for some couples to marry immediately.

• Oct 11

National Coming Out Day: Every celebrity who’s come out as LGBTQ+ in 2024 so far