Another prominent Illinois Republican has come out in favor of same-sex marriage. U-S Senator Mark Kirk made his announcement on his website Tuesday morning.
Kirk framed his support for same-sex marriage in light of his debilitating stroke last year. He says, "Our time on this earth is limited, I know that better than most." The Republican Senator says, "Life comes down to who you love and who loves you back -- government has no place in the middle."
Kirk is only the fourth Republican member of Congress to publicly endorse same-sex marriage. Gregory Angelo, director of the pro-gay-rights Log Cabin Republicans, welcomed the news. He says opposing same-sex marriage is a long-term loser for the G-O-P: "The fact that there is an ongoing dialog on this issue in the Republican Party, the fact that the GOP is not squelching debate and discussion about this, I think shows that we need to allow ourselves as a party to get past lockstep opposition to marriage equality."
The chairman of the Illinois Republican Party also endorsed same-sex marriage, and has since been fighting off attempts to remove him. Legislation to legalize same-sex marriage passed the Illinois Senate with just one Republican voting "yes." That measure is pending in the Illinois House.
