Illinois governor candidates Pat Quinn and Bill Brady debate gay rights
Mon. October 18, 2010 1:04 AM by GoPride.com News Staff
Elmhurst, Ill. -
During a debate laced with personal attacks, Illinois gubernatorial candidates Pat Quinn and Bill Brady also exhibited a gulf on social issues like gay rights.
Sunday night's debate, held at Elmhurst College, was not televised, so it's not clear how much of an impact it will have on the electorate.
During the debate, the candidates generally shrugged off social issues in favor of discussing more pressing problems like the economy.
Quinn did get a chance to point out that Brady voted against a 2004 bill to protect gay and lesbian workers against discrimination.
"Gay people are workers too," Quinn said.
Brady said that his religious beliefs are the reason he is opposed to protections for gays and lesbians in the workplace. He's also opposed to gay marriage and civil unions.
Quinn is supportive of civil unions.
Brady and Quinn also traded jabs on the death penalty moratorium. Brady said it's the will of the people of Illinois that certain criminals be executed; Quinn said it's wrong to continue executions if the state can't protect innocent people from the death penalty.
Sunday night's debate, held at Elmhurst College, was not televised, so it's not clear how much of an impact it will have on the electorate.
During the debate, the candidates generally shrugged off social issues in favor of discussing more pressing problems like the economy.
Quinn did get a chance to point out that Brady voted against a 2004 bill to protect gay and lesbian workers against discrimination.
"Gay people are workers too," Quinn said.
Brady said that his religious beliefs are the reason he is opposed to protections for gays and lesbians in the workplace. He's also opposed to gay marriage and civil unions.
Quinn is supportive of civil unions.
Brady and Quinn also traded jabs on the death penalty moratorium. Brady said it's the will of the people of Illinois that certain criminals be executed; Quinn said it's wrong to continue executions if the state can't protect innocent people from the death penalty.