Important note: Information in this article was accurate in 1988. The state of the art may have changed since the publication date.
Chicago Tribune (CT) - FRIDAY January 1, 1988 Edition: SPORTS FINAL Section: CHICAGOLAND Page: 2 Word Count: 689
Pat Jamison
"I really wouldn't mind taking the test, but I don't want to have to pay for it. That's what bothers me about this new law," said Darla Topping, 21, as she stood in line Wednesday afternoon at the Cook County clerk's office.
"If the government is so concerned about our welfare, why don't they pay for the test?" Topping said. "If it's going to be mandatory, it should be free."
Topping and her husband-to-be, like many of the other blissful couples who swamped the clerk's office, said the AIDS test had little or no bearing on their decision to apply for a marriage license by Dec. 31.
However, one couple did point to the new law as their reason for seeking a 1987 license. Cheryl Anderson, 30, said she and her fiance decided to move up the date of their marriage in order to avoid the test.
"We knew we would be getting married soon, but when we heard about the new law, we agreed, 'Hey, let's do it now,' " Anderson said. "I would rather volunteer for the test than have someone tell me that I have to take it. It shouldn't be mandatory."
As nearly 100 couples strolled in and out of the small office, a spokeswoman for the clerk's office explained that the end of the year is always the busiest period. "People just like to start the new year off on a married foot," the spokeswoman said. "The AIDS test has nothing to do with the crowd."
After Jan. 1, couples seeking a marriage license in Illinois must provide medical certification proving they have been tested for exposure to the virus causing acquired immune deficiency syndrome, or AIDS.
The new law states that couples applying for a marriage license must be tested within 30 days of the date of application to determine if their blood contains the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV). The presence of HIV or its antibodies is an indication of exposure to AIDS, the often fatal disease that affects the body's immune system.
State and county officials estimate the blood test could cost between $15 and $100 per person and the delay could range from three days to three weeks. The state-required syphilis test costs about $5 per person, and couples usually receive those results within one or two days. The license itself costs $15.
The date the application is made, not the date of the wedding, determines whether the test will be required. A marriage license is valid for 60 days in Illinois.
Denise Thomas, 24, who plans to wed on Jan. 9, said the cost and the time required by the new law are not what concern her.
"I just don't want to take that test. If someone wants to be tested, then that's fine. But me, I don't want to know if I have AIDS. That's like pushing yourself to the grave" Thomas said.
Her fiance, John Robinson, 26, said it's senseless to test couples who have been involved in exclusive relationships. "The state is targeting the wrong group," he said. "It's the single people who should be tested. This law is ridiculous."
Other couples agreed with the state law.
"I think it's fair to both partners of a marriage," said Charles Taylor, 23, a soldier who has already been tested for the disease. "I want to know if I or the woman I plan to marry are infected. It's the only way to stop the spread," he said.
And although Cynthia Miller, 32, believes the new law is a good health precaution, she said the price of the test should be lowered.
"It's fine with me," Miller said. "My fiance and I had planned on getting a marriage license on this date already. I'm not trying to avoid the test. It's a good idea to test people, but the government needs to set one affordable price. Or maybe the state should pay."
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