Champaign Co. issues 1st same-sex marriage license

URBANA - Champaign County's first marriage license to a same-sex couple has been issued to two University of Illinois law students.

Laura and Marissa Meli (MEE'-lee) received their license Wednesday as the county became the second in Illinois to issue the documents to same-sex couples. They've been together more than eight years.

Laura Meli says the couple drove to Chicago last week to get a license. That's when a federal judge ruled the state's gay marriage ban was unconstitutional and Cook County couples could wed immediately ahead of a new state law that takes effect June 1.

However, they had hoped for a Champaign County license.

Champaign County Clerk Gordy Hulten says he's consulted with attorneys and decided if the original law "is unconstitutional in Cook County it's unconstitutional in Champaign County."