The debate over same-sex marriage in Illinois is about to head into the courtroom.
The American Civil Liberties Union plans to hold news conferences today in Springfield and Chicago to announce the filing of lawsuits aimed at forcing the state to give gay couples the same rights and benefits of marriage that straight couples now have.
Several same-sex couples will be plaintiffs in the lawsuits, which could eventually make their way to the Illinois Supreme Court, setting the stage for a landmark ruling.
