On Monday, South Dakota Democratic Sen. Tim Johnson endorsed marriage equality on his official website, staking a claim on progressive social policy. Johnson's announcement buffers a growing catalogue of statements from Democratic and Republican congressmen alike, who are rallying for gay rights.
"After a lengthy consideration, my views have evolved sufficiently to support marriage equality legislation," writes Johnson. "This position doesn't require any religious denomination to alter any of its tenets; it simply forbids government from discriminating regarding who can marry whom."
The South Dakota lawmaker, previously one of the last remaining Democratic senators to hold out support on gay marriage, echoes President Barack Obama's use of the term "evolution," which the Commander-in-Chief used when he put his weight behind marriage equality in May 2012.
On the conservative side of the political spectrum, Rep. Ed Sullivan Jr. (R-Ill.), Sen. Robert Portman (R-Ohio) and Sen. Mike Kirk (R-Ill.), have each abandoned their past opposition to gay marriage. Both representatives Sullivan and Portman cite close personal relationships with gay relatives as catalysts for their viewpoint shift.
"The reality is, because my mother-in-law is gay, I have more of an understanding and familiarity with same-sex couples," explains Sullivan.
The Republican figurehead is spearheading a bill to allow gay marriage in Illinois, according to the Chicago Tribune.
He adds, "The issue for me...goes to the core of fairness-marriage equality for all people. I think it is in line with...what I believe, and I personally believe it is in line with what our party believes, and that's trying to treat people with fairness."
In a confessional article for the Dispatch, Portman argues why "gay couples also deserve a chance to get married."
The Senator writes that he was confronted with the reality that his son, Will, is gay two years ago. Portman "wrestled with how to reconcile [his] faith with [his] desire for Will to have the same opportunities to pursue happiness and fulfillment as his brother and sister. Ultimately, it came down to the Bible's overarching themes of love and compassion and [his] belief that we are all children of God."
On his website, Kirk announced "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." He adds, "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."
Currently, a minority of three Democratic senators have not budged on the subject of gay marriage. TPM reports that "Sens. Joe Manchin (D-W.Va.), Mark Pryor (D-Ark.) and Mary Landrieu (D-La.). Manchin reiterated his opposition last week, while Pryor said he's 'undecided' on the matter."
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