Minneapolis mayor to invite same-sex Chicago couples to marry in Minneapolis

Tue. September 3, 2013 9:08 AM

Chicago, IL - The Mayor of Minneapolis, R.T. Rybak, will unveil a new print and digital ad campaign that will run in Chicago-area publications that invites same-sex couples from Chicago to travel to Minneapolis to get legally married. Mayor Rybak's same-sex marriage ad campaign will be launched at 9:00a.m. on Thursday, Sept. 5th at Center on Halsted, 3656 N. Halsted St., Chicago, Ill. 60613.

Until the Illinois Legislature enacts the right for same-sex Chicago couples to legally marry, Mayor Rybak will be actively inviting gay and lesbian Chicagoans to make the short trip to Minneapolis to marry, where marriage equality has been in effect since August 1. Minneapolis, City by Nature, is a supportive, welcoming city with hundreds of friendly vendors who are waiting to help gay and lesbian Chicagoans put together the wedding of their dreams.

Beginning at the stroke of midnight on August 1 and until almost 7:00 a.m. that morning, Mayor Rybak personally performed 46 same-sex weddings in the Rotunda of Minneapolis City Hall, an event that was two months in the planning. 

Mayor Rybak is a long-standing advocate for the freedom for all couples to marry and was a leader in the fight to enact marriage equality in Minnesota. He strongly encourages the Legislature and Governor Quinn to pass marriage equality in Illinois — but until they do, he wants same-sex Chicago and Illinois couples to marry in Minneapolis.

The ad campaign is sponsored by Meet Minneapolis, Minneapolis' convention and visitors' association.

Mayor R.T. Rybak, who was overwhelmingly elected to three terms as mayor of Minneapolis, is currently completing his 12th year in office and is not running for reelection in 2013.

From a press release
 

MORE CONTENT AFTER THESE SPONSORS