County Celebrates 5th Anniversary of Domestic Partnership Registry

Clerk Orr and others laud registry as stepping stone to equal rights

Thursday, October 02, 2008

Hundreds of Cook County domestic partners, along with family and friends, gathered at the Chicago Cultural Center last night to celebrate the fifth anniversary of the domestic partnership registry’s inception on October 1, 2003.

“We are very pleased to maintain a public record of commitment for same-sex couples and look forward to the day when all couples can be legally married in Illinois,” said Cook County Clerk David Orr, who hosted the event.

Other speakers included former Deputy County Clerk Brandon Neese, Metropolitan Water Reclamation District Commissioner Deborah Shore, who is on the registry with her partner, and State Rep. Greg Harris, who is the sponsor of a pending civil union bill.

Neese and County Commissioner Mike Quigley were honored for their work in establishing the registry.

Click here to view a commemorative video featuring some of Cook County’s domestic partners.