A Republican contender for Illinois governor wants to repeal Illinois civil unions, a well-known Illinois political blog is reporting.
State Sen. Kirk Dillard (24th) stated in a 2012 candidate questionnaire to CapitolFax.com that he supported rolling back Illinois civil unions, which took effect June 2011, the blog reported.
In the questionnaire, published in full by Capitol Fax, Dillard writes that the civil unions law, "is a litigious nightmare!!" [sic.].
LGBT policy organization Equality Illinois slammed that stance in a statement released Aug. 23.
"Dillard's comment that the civil union bill is 'a litigious nightmare' is patently false," said Equality Illinois CEO Bernard Cherkasov in the statement. "Despite its inadequacy in granting full marriage rights to all Illinois couples, the civil union law was a step in the right direction for LGBT Illinoisans. During this election campaign, we will not let LGBT Illinoisans or the gains we have fought so hard to achieve serve as fodder for regressive candidates. He cannot be elected governor by attacking LGBT rights."
Dillard's stance against same-sex marriage has been well-documented. Last year, he headed a group of lawmakers who filed an amicus brief against the Lambda Legal and American Civil Liberties Union lawsuits that seek to overturn the state's same-sex marriage ban.
Dillard's campaign did not return calls seeking comment.