As Illinois' civil unions law takes
effect, opponents have launched an effort to place a gay marriage ban
in the state's constitution.
Illinois lawmakers approved the law
that gives gay and lesbian couples most of the state rights of
marriage in December. The law takes effect on Wednesday, but a one
day waiting period makes Thursday, June 2 the first day gay couples
can tie the knot. Chicago
Mayor Rahm Emanuel and Governor Pat Quinn will attend an event
celebrating the civil unions of 30 gay couples on Thursday.
At a Friday rally in downtown Chicago
that got started at St. Peter's Catholic Church, opponents rallied
against the law and launched a petition drive to constitutionally ban
gay marriage.
“The civil unions bill has been
shoved down our throat without the people having a chance to vote on
it,” Richard Walsh of Americans for Life told Chicago ABC
affiliate WLS-TV.
“We're announcing an advisory
referendum petition to put on the ballot in 2012 to call on the
legislature to pass a binding marriage amendment which would protect
marriage – the definition between one man and one woman,” said
Americans for Truth about Homosexuality President Peter LaBarbera.
“There's a battle between gay rights
and religious freedom. We want to give Illinois voters the same
opportunity other states have had. Whether they are red or blue,
states seem to go the same way,” LaBarbera told the Chicago
Tribune.