(WBBM) - Several hundred people rallied outside the Illinois Capitol in Springfield Wednesday and lobbied lawmakers against efforts to create same-sex civil unions in Illinois.

The protest occurred five days after a half dozen rallies across the state in support of same-sex unions, including a rally and march that drew nearly 3,000 people to Chicago's Federal Plaza. 

The protesters had two goals. Their immediate goal is to kill pending legislation that would create civil unions, sponsored by openly-gay State Rep. Greg Harris (D-Chicago).  Longer-term, they hope to set the stage for an amendment to the Illinois constitution that would define marriage as the union of a man and a woman.

Some gay rights activists have denounced the Harris bill, saying nothing short of marriage is acceptable.  But protesters, including the Rev.Calvin Lindstrom of Arlington Heights' Church of Christian Liberty, told lawmakers that even a civil union law could have unwanted consequences.

"We are concerned that when situations like this pass and become state law, that it starts to affect businesses and churches, that if you don't start to accept these things, you are being viewed as hateful, you are being viewed as being a bigot," he said.

The protesters received words of encouragement from two lawmakers and prayed around the Lincoln statue outside the Capitol in what Lindstrom characterized as a "low-key" demonstration. 

The bill is HB1826.