'Our time on this earth is limited, I know that better than most,' Kirk says. Mark Kirk endorses gay marriage

Sen. Mark Kirk bucked most of his fellow Republicans on Tuesday, becoming the second GOP senator to publicly endorse same-sex marriages.

“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,” The Illinois senator said 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.”


Kirk follows in the footsteps of fellow Republican Sen. Rob Portman of Ohio who announced his support of same-sex marriage last month, citing his gay son, Will, as part of the motivation.

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