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House Republican Explains Opposition To Marriage Equality: ‘We Don’t Have Polygamy And Bigamy’

Rep. Judy Biggert (R-IL)

A Republican congresswoman clarified her opposition to marriage equality Wednesday night, likening it to “polygamy and bigamy.”

Rep. Judy Biggert (R-IL) was asked about her views on same-sex marriage at a press conference following her Illinois 11th congressional district debate. “It is a state issue,” Biggert explained. “We don’t have polygamy and bigamy and all of these things in the federal government”:

REPORTER: The gay marriage issue that came up. You said that you’re close but you’re…

BIGGERT: Well, I think that, I think that the country is close to this. I think let’s wait and see what the courts have to say. But it is a state issue. We don’t have polygamy and bigamy and all of these things in the federal government. It’s the states that take care of that. [...]

REPORTER: But yet you’re not supporting gay marriage?

BIGGERT: I said I’m close.

REPORTER: Well that’s not supporting it though.

BIGGERT: No it’s not. I’m for civil unions and I’m looking at the prospect of what’s going to happen.

Watch it:

Biggert’s opponent, former Rep. Bill Foster (D-IL), is a marriage equality supporter.

Despite her crass comparison, Biggert’s record is not entirely anti-LGBT. She supports the Employment Non-Discrimination Act, for instance, and received a 70 percent rating from the Human Rights Campaign for 2011-12.

HT: Daily Kos Elections.

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