NATIONAL CAMPAIGN FOR MARRIAGE EQUALITY RETURNS TO MIDWEST
IN CASES LIKELY HEADED TO SUPREME COURT
Marriage equality advocates from Indiana and Wisconsin to gather for Chicago rally on eve of U.S. Appellate Court Hearing

CHICAGO (August 20, 2014) — The national spotlight on the campaign for marriage equality returns to the Midwest next week when lawsuits involving Indiana and Wisconsin couples denied their right to marry are heard before a federal appeals court in Chicago. The cases are likely to reach the U.S. Supreme Court.

The hearing on Tuesday, August 26, before the U.S. Court of Appeals for the 7th Circuit in Chicago, will be preceded at 5:30 pm Monday night, August 25, with a rally in the Chicago Federal Plaza. The rally will include plaintiffs, faith leaders and marriage equality supporters from Indiana and Wisconsin, many arriving in bus caravans, as well as marriage equality advocates from Illinois who want to express their support for same-sex couples in neighboring states.

Wisconsin, Indiana and Illinois advocates for marriage equality are rallying in Chicago–in a state where marriage equality is the law–to show the nation that the Midwest is ready for the freedom to marry.

In separate cases, couples sued in federal district courts in Wisconsin and Indiana seeking recognition of their freedom to marry and have the same rights and benefits as all other married couples for themselves and their families. Federal district judges in Indiana and Wisconsin ruled the states’ bans on same-sex marriage unconstitutional. The states appealed, and the federal appeals court combined the cases and set oral arguments for Tuesday in Chicago in the Dirksen Federal Building.

Many of the plaintiff couples and their supporters are coming to Chicago for the Tuesday hearing and will appear Monday night for the rally with allies from their home states.

Organizations represented at the event will include ACLU of Indiana, ACLU of Wisconsin, Fair Wisconsin, Freedom to Marry, Hoosiers Unite for Marriage, Indiana Equality Action, Lambda Legal and Wisconsin Unites for Marriage. Also participating in the event are the cofounders of the Illinois Unites for Marriage Coalition: Equality Illinois, ACLU of Illinois and Lambda Legal Midwest Regional Office.

Illinois State Rep. Greg Harris, who authored the Illinois law legalizing same-sex marriage in the state, will kick off the event.

RALLY DETAILS

WHO:
Plaintiffs, faith leaders and marriage equality supporters

WHAT: 
Rally to support the freedom to marry in Indiana and Wisconsin on the eve of oral arguments that will determine whether same-sex marriage bans in those states will remain unconstitutional

WHEN: 
Monday, August 25, 2014
5:30 p.m. (Central)

WHERE:
Federal Plaza in Chicago, 219 South Dearborn St. (at Adams street)