Illinois Senator Kyle McCarter, a
Republican, on Tuesday introduced legislation which seeks to repeal
the state's gay marriage law.
Illinois currently recognizes gay
couples with civil unions. However, a gay marriage bill signed into
law by Governor Pat Quinn in November takes effect on June 1.
McCarter's bill is titled Marriage
Fairness Act – Repeal.
Last year, McCarter lamented the law's
passage in the Senate.
“To redefine marriage is
discriminatory towards those who hold the sincerely held religious
belief that it is a sacred institution between man & a woman,”
he wrote on Facebook.
On the Senate floor, McCarter said
passage of the measure would “jeopardize freedom rather than
expanding it” because it would “take away the right of many.”
Anthony Martinez, executive director of
The Civil Rights Agenda, labeled introduction of the bill an election
year stunt.
“Well, it looks like it's an election
year,” Martinez said in an emailed statement. “Even though most
Republican leaders in Illinois have stated it is time to move past
the marriage debate, Senator McCarter introduced a bill that would
harm thousands of families and couples across Illinois. The Senator
also knows full well that this bill does not have the support to
pass, especially in the Senate.”