Another Republican congressman comes out in support of gay marriage, and this time, it didn’t take his son being gay for him to accept gays loving each other. He now joins Rob Portman as the only two Republicans in Congress approving of same-sex marriage.
Sen. Mark Kirk of Illinois announced his support Tuesday for gay marriage, becoming the second Republican to endorse marriage equality.
Kirk, who recently returned to Congress after suffering a stroke, joins Sen. Rob Portman of Ohio as the only sitting Republican senators to support marriage for same-sex couples.
“Same-sex couples should have the right to civil marriage,” Kirk said in a statement. “Our time on this earth is limited, I know that better than most. Life comes down to who you and love and who loves you back — government has no place in the middle.”
The senator’s announcement comes a week after the U.S. Supreme Court heard historic arguments challenging same-sex marriage and as public opinion polls show more acceptance. The change in attitudes has also been occurring in the U.S. Senate, starting first with Portman and then a host of Democrats who have publicly declared their support.
