ACLU Lawsuit to Challenge Illinois Marriage Ban

More than two dozen gay and lesbian couples in Illinois plan to file lawsuits Wednesday arguing that it’s unconstitutional for the state to deny them the right to marry, a move advocates hope will lead to marriage equality in Illinois.

The two lawsuits — backed by the American Civil Liberties Union of Illinois and the New York-based LGBT advocacy group Lambda Legal — include couples from the Chicago area, Bloomington and Marion. Both challenge a state law that defines marriage as between a man and woman, arguing that the Illinois Constitution guarantees the right for same-sex couples to marry under due process and equality clauses.