Would Illinois voters support gay marriage or at least civil unions? It's a hot topic, especially in the wake of the recent Prop 8 legal wrangling in California, and one that may not be resolved any time soon. But that didn't stop the Tribune from polling 800 "heads of households" in the six-county Greater Chicagoland area about their opinions on same-sex marriage and civil unions. Among their findings: more ›

A federal judge in California has lifted the stay on gay marriages tied to the Prop 8 ruling but marriages won't be allowed until August 18. Our sister sites LAist and SFist have more info on the ruling. more ›

• Former Univ. of Chicago law school professor Elena Kagen has been confirmed by the U.S. Senate by a vote of 63-37. The SCOTUS will have three female justices for the first time ever.
• Bad news for city finances as the city bond rating was downgraded.
• Erin Hughes, the New Trier High School student involved in a hit-and-run accident in which she injured another student, avoided jail as a judge sentenced her to two years of probation.

In the wake of yesterday's decision by a U.S. District judge to overturn California's controversial Proposition 8 banning gay marriage, yesterday's rally at Daley Plaza took on something of a celebratory air. Heavy rains earlier in the afternoon kept some away but a spirited crowd estimated at over 100 people - including our own Joe Erbentraut - made it out. After the rally, the crowd marched down to Grant Park at Michigan and Van Buren. Joe reports: "The mood was, besides tired from the work day, very excited, but with a "What's next?" message. Folks obviously want to see the decision upheld through the inevitable appeal process, and also were left asking: Why don't we have marriage, or even civil unions, here in Illinois? We all recognize a lot of work has yet to be done, but for now, we celebrated." more ›

The judge presiding over the federal trial challenging Prop 8, which banned same sex marriage in California, has overturned the initiative. Our sisters sites LAist and SFist have more on the decision. Official court documents in the case are available here. The battle is hardly over, though, as supporters of Prop 8 filed a stay on the judge's ruling before it was even announced, meaning there's another appeal to come and a potential trip to the Supreme Court still looms. more ›

A ruling by U.S. District Court Judge Vaughn Walker in the federal trial challenging the constitutionality of California's gay marriage-banning Proposition 8 is due late this afternoon, alerting activists on both sides of the issue nationwide who have anxiously awaited a decision in the unprecedented trial since it began in January. In Chicago, LGBT activists have planned a rally for Daley Plaza at 6 p.m. Other cities nationwide have scheduled similar rallies. more ›

We know it's not Chicago-related, but we know many in Chicago are following the proceedings of the Prop 8 trial out in California. Our sisters sites LAist and SFist will have ongoing coverage throughout the trial. Get caught up with LAist's Guide to the trial and some of SFist's coverage from earlier today. more ›

You've seen the photos of Christa Lohman here on this site many times. Posting under the Flickr name Chloeloe, her amazing photos have appeared in both our daily Around Town feature and we also used some of her photos in various Prop 8 galleries. And it's her Prop 8 photos that are getting more attention in the form of a new exhibit opening tonight. more ›

Yesterday's announcement by the California Supreme Court that they would upheld Prop 8 had many gay rights supporters upset, even here in Chicago. Over 600 supporters showed up in spite of the rain for a rally held in front of the Center on Halsted. more ›

Update: The California Supreme Court has voted to uphold the controversial Prop 8. The final vote was 6-1 in favor of upholding. The 18,000 gay and lesbian marriages already recognized will remain legal. Sister site LAist has more coverage. Salon has the full decision here [PDF, all 185 pages of it]. more ›

If you missed Round 1, check them out here. more ›

Tim already told you about yesterday's Prop 8 protest rally, so here's our first round of pics from the rally, including some reader contributed pics to our Flickr pool. more ›

Gay and straight, black and white, young and old came together yesterday in Federal Plaza to protest the passing of California’s Proposition 8, which amends California’s constitution banning any marriage that is not between a man and a woman. Reportedly, over 2,000 people gathered, banners and rainbow flags in hand before marching on City Hall and eventually to Michigan Avenue. more ›