Ten years ago, the LGBTQ+ community notched a crucial victory: nationwide marriage equality. The moment capped a decade of momentous change in the United States, which started with the election of the nation's first Black president, Barack Obama.

Getting married, choosing who to marry, and deciding whether to have children are some of the most important decisions you can make and can affect the rest of your life.

This week's top photo comes from visual journalist Candace Dane Chambers. Happy New Year. We're ringing it in with love.

A Humboldt Park couple kicked off the new year by celebrating love with a historic ceremony. Melissa Nunez and Elizabeth Branske won Cook County's annual lottery for the first wedding of 2026, becoming the first lesbian couple to secure the sought-after spot.