Illinois Rep. Judy Biggert on Wednesday
compared gay marriage to plural relationships.
The 75-year-old Biggert was asked to
expand on her response on the issue during a debate against her
Democratic challenger, Bill Foster, a former congressman from
Illinois.
“The gay marriage issue that came
up,” a reporter asked. “You said that you're close but you're
...”
“Well, I think that, I think that the
country is close to this,” Biggert interrupted. “But it is a
state issue. We don't have polygamy and bigamy and all these things
in the federal government. It's the states that take care of that.”
“But yet you're not supporting gay
marriage?”
“I said I'm close.”
“Well that's not supporting it
though,” the reporter noted.
“No, it's not,” Biggert replied.
“I'm for civil unions and I'm looking at the prospect of what's
going to happen.” (The video is embedded on this page. Visit
our video library for more videos.)
Biggert is among a handful of
congressional Republicans who appear to be on the verge of endorsing
marriage equality. Other Representatives include Mary Bono Mack of
California and Richard Hanna of New York.
Illinois approved civil unions last
year and could consider legalizing marriage equality as early as
December during a lame duck session.