More than 1,000 Chicago-area couples
have applied for civil union licenses in June and July.
Illinois began issuing civil union
licenses on June 1. Four additional states have legalized the union,
including New Jersey, Hawaii, Delaware, and most recently, Rhode
Island.
Demand has been highest in Cook County,
which includes Chicago, the third largest city in the United States.
According
to the Daily
Herald, county clerks' offices in Cook County issued 1,098
civil union licenses and 6,884 marriage licenses between June 1 and
July 31.
An additional 301 couples applied in
surrounding counties DuPage (110), Kane (83), Lake (72) and McHenry
(36). Officials added that not all couples seeking a civil union
were gay or lesbian.
“The first day was very historic, but
now it's just another license that is issued by our office,” said
Cindy Pagano, the chief deputy clerk in Lake County.
While demonstrators in downtown Chicago
protested the law on its opening day, suburban clerks said there had
been no protests from groups or individuals opposed to gay unions.