CHICAGO — Nearly 1,800 marriage licenses have been issued in Cook County to same-sex couples since February, the county clerk's office said Monday.
Cook County Clerk David Orr said more than 120 couples converted their civil unions to marriage Monday, the first day such conversions could be made by law.
“This is the day we have been looking forward to all along when any couple, without regard to who they love or where they live, can get married anywhere in Illinois,” Orr said in a statement.
In February, a federal judge allowed same-sex couples to get their licenses in Cook County months ahead of when the state law legalizing it went into effect.
On Sunday, marriage licenses became available to same-sex couples statewide.
First in the Cook County line Monday were Darren Grogan and William Brannin, a couple for 23 years who sought to change their civil union to a marriage.
Those with civil unions can get a marriage license free of charge until May 31, 2015. Both partners need to be at the clerk's office to make the change.
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