Ill. gay marriage ballot issue rejected

[deadparrot]

CHICAGO - State elections officials voted Friday to keep a referendum against gay marriage off the November ballot, saying supporters failed to gather enough valid signatures.

The measure would have asked voters if the state constitution should be amended to ban gay marriage. Illinois law already prohibits same-sex marriage, but gay-marriage opponents say they fear courts could overturn the law unless the state constitution is changed.

"Unless they pull a rabbit out of a hat in federal court, it's not going to be on the ballot," said Patricia Logue, senior counsel for the Lambda Legal Defense and Education Fund.

Supporters of the referendum have filed a lawsuit in federal court, claiming that getting a referendum on the Illinois ballot is burdensome and unconstitutional, said Peter LaBarbera, executive director of the conservative Illinois Family Institute and Protect Marriage Illinois.

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20060812/ap_on_re_us/gay_marriage_illinois

[Monkeyman]

1. No wedge issue for Judy Barr and the replugs

[BattyDem]

2. Way to go, Illinois !

:applause:

[murielm99]

3. This was only an advisory

referendum in the first place. It did not have the force of law. If it had passed, it would have been a recommendation to the governor that he create a bill that becomes a law banning gay marriage.

It was being used as a tactic to get the wingnut voters to the polls.