Quinn not sure of his support for gay marriage

Gov. Pat Quinn said he would have to do more study to determine if he would support a measure to give same sex couples the same rights as heterosexual couples. (Photo by Tasos Katopodis/Getty Images for GEANCO Foundation)

CHICAGO – Illinois Gov. Pat Quinn says he doesn’t know if he would support legislation that would give same sex couples the same rights as heterosexual couples.

The Democrat supported same sex civil unions, which became legal in Illinois last summer. However, he said yesterday he wants to study issues surrounding same-sex marriage before he makes a decision.

The “Religious Freedom and Marriage Fairness Act” was introduced in the Illinois House earlier this month. It would eliminate the part of state law that prohibits gay marriages and offer same sex couples the rights currently available exclusively to heterosexual couples.

The measure also says religious groups will be free to decide which marriages they will perform.