Chicago, IL -
As the debate over same-sex marriage heats up in Washington, D.C. and Illinois, Sen. Mark Kirk (R-IL) announced Tuesday that he supports marriage equality.
"When I climbed the Capitol steps in January, I promised myself that I would return to the Senate with an open mind and greater respect for others," Kirk said in a statement.
"Same-sex couples should have the right to civil marriage," Kirk continued. "Our time on this earth is limited, I know that better than most. Life comes down to who you love and who loves you back-- government has no place in the middle."
Kirk, a moderate, becomes the second Republican senator to embrace marriage equality. In March, Ohio Sen. Rob Portman announced his support for same-sex marriage marriage.
"We continue to see the momentum behind marriage equality grow, especially among Republicans," said Rick Garcia, Director of the Equal Marriage Illinois Project and Policy Director for The Civil Rights Agenda. "The momentum is stunning and we welcome it."
The North Shore congressman and Navy reservist is considered a moderate gay ally, although the Human Right Campaign (HRC) pulled its endorsement of him during the 2010 campaign after he voted against the repeal of Don't Ask, Don't Tell, the 1993 law that forbids gay troops from revealing their sexuality.
Kirk supported a federal hate crimes law that included sexual orientation and gender identity and the Employment Non-Discrimination Act (ENDA), a bill that would outlaw workplace LGBT discrimination.
The 53-year-old lives in Highland Park, is divorced and has no children.
"When I climbed the Capitol steps in January, I promised myself that I would return to the Senate with an open mind and greater respect for others," Kirk said in a statement.
"Same-sex couples should have the right to civil marriage," Kirk continued. "Our time on this earth is limited, I know that better than most. Life comes down to who you love and who loves you back-- government has no place in the middle."
Kirk, a moderate, becomes the second Republican senator to embrace marriage equality. In March, Ohio Sen. Rob Portman announced his support for same-sex marriage marriage.
"We continue to see the momentum behind marriage equality grow, especially among Republicans," said Rick Garcia, Director of the Equal Marriage Illinois Project and Policy Director for The Civil Rights Agenda. "The momentum is stunning and we welcome it."
The North Shore congressman and Navy reservist is considered a moderate gay ally, although the Human Right Campaign (HRC) pulled its endorsement of him during the 2010 campaign after he voted against the repeal of Don't Ask, Don't Tell, the 1993 law that forbids gay troops from revealing their sexuality.
Kirk supported a federal hate crimes law that included sexual orientation and gender identity and the Employment Non-Discrimination Act (ENDA), a bill that would outlaw workplace LGBT discrimination.
The 53-year-old lives in Highland Park, is divorced and has no children.
