Illinois Republican introduces legislation to repeal marriage equality law
Wed. January 22, 2014 9:41 AM by GoPride.com News Staff
sen. kyle mccarter (r-decatur), feb. 14, 2013
photo credit // chicagopride.com
LGBT-advocacy groups say a bill to repeal same-sex marriage is going nowhere.
Springfield, IL -
Illinois Senator Kyle McCarter, a Republican, on Tuesday introduced legislation which seeks to repeal the state's new marriage equality law before it even goes into effect.
McCarter's bill, Senate Bill 2637, is titled Marriage Fairness Act - Repeal.
The conservative lawmaker vehemently opposed the Religious Freedom and Marriage Fairness Act (Senate Bill 10), during a Senate floor debate on Feb. 14, 2013. "We are jeopardizing freedom, not expanding it," McCarter (R-Lebanon) argued.
The marriage equality law ultimately passed by a 34-21 vote in February and again in November to concur with the House in a 32-21 vote.
Bernard Cherkasov, CEO of Equality Illinois, called McCarter's latest actions "predictable."
"Fortunately for Illinois, a solid majority of the Senate is on record supporting marriage equality, and the Senate President who is committed to protecting the freedom to marry," Cherkasov told ChicagoPride.com.
Cherkasov said his group would continue to monitor the new measure.
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."
"Why would the Senator waste time and resources to rehash a debate where the outcome that has been decided is supported by the majority of our state," questioned Martinez.
Illinois marriage equality law, which was signed by Governor Quinn in November, does not take effect until June 1, 2014.
McCarter's bill, Senate Bill 2637, is titled Marriage Fairness Act - Repeal.
The conservative lawmaker vehemently opposed the Religious Freedom and Marriage Fairness Act (Senate Bill 10), during a Senate floor debate on Feb. 14, 2013. "We are jeopardizing freedom, not expanding it," McCarter (R-Lebanon) argued.
The marriage equality law ultimately passed by a 34-21 vote in February and again in November to concur with the House in a 32-21 vote.
Bernard Cherkasov, CEO of Equality Illinois, called McCarter's latest actions "predictable."
"Fortunately for Illinois, a solid majority of the Senate is on record supporting marriage equality, and the Senate President who is committed to protecting the freedom to marry," Cherkasov told ChicagoPride.com.
Cherkasov said his group would continue to monitor the new measure.
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."
"Why would the Senator waste time and resources to rehash a debate where the outcome that has been decided is supported by the majority of our state," questioned Martinez.
Illinois marriage equality law, which was signed by Governor Quinn in November, does not take effect until June 1, 2014.