Petitions for antigay referendum submitted in Illinois

A group that wants the Illinois legislature to place a ban on same-sex marriage in the state constitution has submitted more than 345,000 signatures to put such a measure on the ballot in an advisory referendum this fall. If the petition signatures are certified, voters could be asked whether the state constitution should be amended to limit marriage to the union of a man and a woman. But the results of the referendum would not change the constitution.

A 1996 Illinois law already bans same-sex marriage, but opponents of such marriages fear the law could be struck down in court. If the petitions for the measure are challenged, more than 283,000 signatures would have to survive the challenge in order to hold a referendum. (The Advocate)