Opposing Sides Await U.S. High Court Ruling On Same-Sex Marriage Bans
(CBS) -- The nation's highest court could rule as early as Friday on the legality of same-sex marriage bans.
Activists on both sides of the issue await the U.S. Supreme Court ruling.
"I am so anxious for the Supreme Court ruling," says Equality Illinois CEO Bernard Cherkasov, who calls himself "an eternal optimist."
"I believe the justices ultimately care about the Constitution and what is morally right," he says. "What is morally right is recognizing that marriage is about love and family and commitment, and that gay and lesbian loved ones deserve the same commitment as well."
Same-sex marriages are now being performed in 37 states. Openly gay State Rep. Kelly Cassidy (D-Chicago) said she would love to see a ruling affirming same-sex marriage in time for Pride Weekend in Chicago.
"We spoke at the very beginning of this process about what the tipping point was, and if the tipping point isn't 37 (states), I don't know what it is," she says.
The Illinois Family Institute has argued for years against same-sex marriage and is hoping the justices leave bans up to the states to decide. It argues that doing so would protect children and offer them both a father and a mother.