Community Corner

McHenry County Couples Line Up For Civil Union License

It's a day many thought would never come.

Mark Rogalski and Michael Strei waited for hours outside the McHenry County Clerk’s office Wednesday to be the first same-sex couple to get a civil union license in the county.

The Lake in the Hills couple waited 30 years for the day to legalize their union.

“I didn’t think this would happen,” Rogalski said.

Find out what's happening in Huntleywith free, real-time updates from Patch.

Cynthia Thompson and Angela Gaspari, of Crystal Lake, were second in line Wednesday as a new state of Illinois law legalized civil unions.

They had the “big church wedding with attendants and big white dresses,” Gaspari said. But the civil union license sealed the deal.

Find out what's happening in Huntleywith free, real-time updates from Patch.

“It’s surreal,” Gaspari said after signing the license and posing with Thompson. “It’s something you’ve been waiting for so long. I can’t believe it actually happened.”

The two headed off to the McHenry County Courthouse to schedule a ceremony to be legally married in the eyes of the state.

Illinois’ new law grants same-sex couples the same rights as heterosexual couples, including the ability to have a say in each other's medical decisions.

A long journey

Rogalski and Strei celebrated 30 years together with an anniversary party last fall. Their nieces and nephews did not understand the big deal, Strei said.

Back then, the two had to keep their relationship somewhat secret, he said.

Rogalski grew up in McHenry County feeling isolated and as if he was the only gay man in the world. He met Strei while they were in their late 20s and moved in together. It was a big statement when they opened a joint checking account, Strei said.

Strei remembers harassment by local high school students who would yell derogatory names while walking past their home. But the two shrugged off the aggravation and were married in 1988 by family and friends in an emotional ceremony.

The two talked about their journey as they waited for the doors to the clerk’s office to open Wednesday. Strei and Rogalski kept an eye on the time and ran off at the strike of clock.

They were first in line, but a computer glitch issued them the county’s third license.

The first official civil union license went to Nathan Woodall, 31, and Jayson Hoss, 36, of McHenry. Ironically, Hoss has known Strei and Rogalski since he was 14 years old.

“I remember them saying the day would never come,” Hoss said. “And here I got to see them (get a license).”

Hoss wiped tears away as he and Woodall answered standard questions like place of birth, occupation and parents’ names.

“It’s a big step,” he said of seeing same-sex couples get equal rights in Illinois.

A busy morning

The lobby of the clerk’s office was busy from the moment it opened at 8 a.m. until an hour later, with six couples filling out civil union licenses.

Lori Bergmann and Jodi Schoeck, of Lake in the Hills, also were in line early. Their license took a little longer as the clerks worked the kinks out of the new database system.

“Sorry, this is new to us,” a clerk said.

“It’s OK, it’s new to us too,” Bergmann said. “We are just happy to get it.”

Bergmann and Schoeck, who had a ceremony 15 years ago, were happy to have the chance to get a civil union license. But like others, they said it is just one step. While the state of Illinois will recognize their marriage, the federal government will not recognize the couple.

“It will happen in the next 20 years,” Bergmann said. “You can’t be an equal citizen until it happens. It never made sense to me to fight over the word ‘marriage.’ All marriages are civil unions it’s just a matter of having it religiously sanctioned.”

Tracy Carls and Tina Lopez, of Marengo, got their license and will have a religious ceremony. Their wedding day will be Friday.

“This was the final piece” in the planning, Lopez said.

They planned the wedding around the civil union law. They will be married at a church in Union with a reception following.

“It was always a wish but never realized,” Lopez said of having her marriage legally recognized.

Meanwhile, Strei and Rogalski were hoping to be the first same-sex couple married in McHenry County and planned a ceremony Thursday.


Get more local news delivered straight to your inbox. Sign up for free Patch newsletters and alerts.

We’ve removed the ability to reply as we work to make improvements. Learn more here