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 Something blues Same-sex marriage advocates are on a mission
Protesters and supporters of same-sex marriage are huddled on opposite
sides of Clark Street outside of City Hall at the same doorway the Blues
Brothers scrambled through more than twenty years ago, in a scene
reminiscent of the 1980 movie. A crowd of couples and supporters are
about to march through the doorway to demand the right to marriage. "If
marriage had been written into the constitution in 1787 there would be
no interracial marriage or interfaith marriage," Laura Rissober says.
She's dressed in colonial garb, clanking a bell at the protesters.
Pro-marriage signs flood the view above everyone's head. "The
fight for gay marriage has arrived in Chicago," someone shouts out.
Then hundreds of couples and supporters file down the hallway inside of
City Hall, yelling, clapping, and cheering; much like when the police
were storming after the Blues Brothers through the same halls. But
instead of ascending up the stairs to the Cook County Assessor's
Office, the crowd files down an escalator to the marriage court. Throngs
of couples wait in line only to hear someone tell them "no." Ron Shaw
got to the marriage court early and was rejected. "They were nice and
smiley," he says, "but said 'We can't. It's against the law.'"
Tanks aren't present on the streets, and people aren't repelling
down the sides of City Hall, but there is a similarity between the Blues
Brothers and the same-sex couples fighting for their rights. They are
both on a mission.
Also by Larry Lamovec 'Ski lift
Queer eye for the bride
No bull
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