Two more senators, one from each party, announced their support for same-sex marriage on Tuesday.
Mark Kirk of Illinois joins Rob Portman of Ohio on the small list of Senate Republicans who back legalizing marriage for gay couples.
“When I climbed the Capitol steps in January,†said Mr. Kirk, referring towhen he returned to work after spending a year recovering from a stroke, “I promised myself that I would return to the Senate with an open mind and greater respect for others.â€
He continued, in a statement, “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.â€
Senator Tom Carper, a Delaware Democrat, took to Facebook to announce his support.
“As our society has changed and evolved, so too has the public’s opinion on gay marriage - and so has mine,†he wrote, adding that the “Golden Rule†prompted him to believe that “all Americans should be free to marry the people they love and intend to share their lives with, regardless of their sexual orientation.â€
More senators have announced their support of same-sex marriage almost daily, including Senator Bob Casey, a Pennsylvania Democrat, on Monday.
