Illinois GOP Sen. Mark Kirk Announces Support For Marriage Equality

By Chuck Sudo in News on Apr 2, 2013 4:30PM

Add Mark Kirk to the list of Republican politicians supporting same-sex marriage. Illinois' junior U.S. Senator released a statement this morning announcing his support of 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.

Same-sex couples should have the right to civil marriage. 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's fight back from a debilitating stroke last year to return to Congress in January made national headlines and was marked by his climbing the 45 steps from the base of the Capitol to the Senate doors. Few things put life into perspective like a mortal health scare. However Kirk got to this position, good on him.

Kirk becomes the second high-profile Republican senator to support marriage equality. Last month Ohio Sen. Rob Portman, who co-wrote the 1996 Defense of Marriage Act (DOMA), wrote an op-ed announcing his support of same-sex marriage because his son was gay.