Despite gay marriage becoming much more widely accepted, especially with last year’s U.S. Supreme Court ruling that same-sex couples have a right to marry, some gay couples face hurdles when trying to tie the knot.
The issue came to the attention of local media when, back in 2011, the owners of an Illinois bed and breakfast refused to host a gay civil union because they were opposed to the same-sex ceremony. As a result, a judge fined the owners $30,000 in damages and another $50,000 in legal fees, which the owners vowed to fight.
Just recently, the bed & breakfast couple’s effort to appeal their case to the Illinois Human Rights Commission was stopped dead-in-its-tracks. A three member panel not only refused to hear the appeal, but also ordered the couple to cease discrimination of same-sex couples, a violation under the Illinois Human Rights Act.
Illinois was an early adopter of same-sex marriage, even before the U.S. Supreme Court’s decision to legalize it across the nation. Many in the state see legal marriage for all couples as a means of providing needed benefits and protections, which of course, comes with many responsibilities.
As with different-sex couples, there are many issues that arise in same-sex marriages which require sound legal representation from divorce and property division to child custody and support. The Law Offices of Ronald L. Bell PC offers legal services to all individuals throughout Lake County and the surrounding communities in northern Illinois. If you need assistance with a family law matter, call our offices today at 847-495-6000 or email.
Source: Chicago Tribune, “Panel Backs Same-Sex Couple Denied Access to Central Illinois Bed and Breakfast”, accessed December 6, 2016.