Associated Press And BTL Staff Report
CHICAGO —
Republican Sen. Mark Kirk of Illinois and Democratic Senator Tom Carper of Delaware both announced support for gay marriage on April 2.
Kirk, who previously opposed a constitutional amendment banning gay marriage, said in a post on his blog that "same-sex couples should have the right to civil marriage."
Carper made the announcement on his Facebook page, saying he came to his decision "after a great deal of soul searching."
The senators' announcements brings the total number of pro-marriage equality members of the senate to 50 out of 100 – including Michigan's Carl Levin and Debbie Stabenow.
"Our time on this Earth is limited, I know that better than most," said Kirk, who suffered a stroke in January 2012. "Life comes down to who you love and who loves you back — government has no place in the middle."
Kirk went through months of rehabilitation before returning to work in Washington this January. He said in his blog post that when he went back to the Senate he promised himself he would return "with an open mind and greater respect for others."
Kirk is Illinois' ranking Republican lawmaker. His announcement comes less than three weeks after Sen. Rob Portman of Ohio became the first Republican in the Senate to say he supported gay marriage and one week after the U.S. Supreme Court held two days of oral arguments on the subject.
The news of the two senators' announcements was greeted with enthusiasm by supporters.
"Senator Kirk and Senator Carper have shown tremendous leadership in announcing their support for marriage equality," said HRC President Chad Griffin in a statement. "It is a sign of our progress that so many of their colleagues are showing the same political will. Democrat or Republican, there can simply be no excuse for standing on the wrong side of history when it comes to this basic question of justice."
"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, Illinois' largest gay rights advocacy organization. "The momentum is stunning and we welcome it."
Kirk's announcment comes one week after the U.S. Supreme Court held two days of oral arguments on the subject, and as the Illinois Legislature is giving final consideration to a measure that would make Illinois the 10th state in the nation to allow same-sex marriage.
