Saying “I do” is a big step for heterosexual couples, but for others it’s an even bigger one.

PRISM and the Presidential Commission on Sexual Orientation will sponsor today’s presentation by Craig Dean about same-sex marriages.

Ten years ago, Dean filed a discrimination suit to legalize same-sex marriage – the first such suit in more than 30 years – after his marriage license application was denied because both partners were men, said Margie Cook, coordinator of the Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender Resource Center.

“His presentation gives a historical overview of same-sex marriage, and discusses same-sex marriage in current society,” she said.

The goal of the presentation is to educate people about the issues involved with same-sex marriages.

“We’re hoping people will come away a little more informed about the LGBT community, and on what it is like to have a partner and not be able to marry them,” said Robb Schuldt, co-president of PRISM.

Denying someone the right to marry denies them some of their legal rights, Cook said.

“In our country, there are 1,049 rights and privileges that are accorded to people based on marital status,” Cook said. “So when individuals are denied the right to marry, they are, in fact, being denied certain rights. If you are a citizen of this country, we are supposed to be treated equally. But in reality, we are not.”

Bringing Dean to NIU is not only to inform, but also to open people’s minds.

“By bringing a speaker on same-sex marriages we hope to be able to start abolishing stereotypes about the LGBT community,” Schuldt said.

Dean will speak at 7 p.m. today at the Holmes Student Center, Room 405.

Same-sex Presentation

Who: Craig Dean

What: Same-sex marriage presentation

When: 7 p.m. today

Where: Holmes Student Center, Room 405

How: Sponsored by PRISM and PCSO