GOP Sen. Mark Kirk Backs Marriage

"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." - Sen. Mark Kirk (R-IL), writing on his blog.

RELATED: Kirk is the second sitting GOP Senator to back same-sex marriage. Sen. Rob Portman was the first. Buzzfeed's Chris Geidner notes that Kirk voted against the repeal of DADT but stated his support of civil unions in 2010.  Kirk suffered a massive stroke last year and later told the press that three angels had appeared at his hospital bedside to ask if he was ready to join them in heaven.

UPDATE: Freedom To Marry head Evan Wolfson applauds via press release.

"With Senator Kirk's support, the U.S. Senate is now ready to move to the right side of history in support of same-sex couples' freedom to marry. Just as we have seen a majority of Americans embrace the freedom to marry, so the Senate is now on the verge of a majority for marriage. As members of Congress are talking with their family, friends, colleagues, and constituents, they come to understand why marriage matters to gay couples as to non-gay, and speak up in support of fairness and freedom. Senator Kirk's heartfelt words about values of treating others as we'd all want to be treated in our precious time on this planet powerfully make the case for the freedom to marry -- and the need for decision-makers to end marriage discrimination in the United States."

UPDATE II: Log Cabin Republicans are cheering.

Log Cabin Republicans welcomes Senator Kirk's support of civil marriage for committed same-sex couples. As with his Republican colleague Senator Portman, Senator Kirk's evolution on this issue was framed in very personal terms. We've long said that this is an issue of freedom and fairness, and Senator Kirk's support underlines that message. With the Republican logjam on marriage equality now officially broken, we encourage Senator Kirk's fellow Republicans in the Senate and his colleagues in the House to join him, Senator Portman, Congressman Hanna, and Congresswoman Ros-Lehtinen on the right side of history. In declaring his support for the freedom to marry, Senator Kirk said, 'Our time on this earth is limited, I know that better than most.' Log Cabin Republicans applauds Senator Kirk for making the most of his time and looks forward to working with him for many years to come.