Chicago gets pro-marriage billboard

A marriage counselling service in Chicago has displayed in a billboard in response to another billboard which seemingly promoted divorce.

The offending poster was displayed by a divorce law firm and said Life's Short. Get a Divorce alongside the images of a scantily clad man and woman. Now, the Lighthouse Emotional Wellness Center has come up with its own poster, which says Life's Short. Your Marriage Doesn't Have To Be.

The centre is run by Ray Kadkhodaian and Jean Kadkhodaian, a married couple who work in Chicago as marital coaches, who were unhappy with the message of the laywer's billboard. They decided to produce what they deem to be a slightly more positive one because they believe that "not enough resources are spent on educating the public directly about divorce prevention options".

Mr Kadkhodaian said: "The current divorce rate continues to be an epidemic and depressing cloud overshadowing couples today. This is complicated by the ease and normalcy of divorce portrayed in our society. We just wanted to offer couples another option.

"In this day and age of being a 'throw-away' society, marriage seems to have become one of these disposable items. This just adds to the pressures and frustrations experienced by struggling married couples today."