WASHINGTON – The Human Rights Campaign (HRC), the nation’s largest lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) civil rights organization, today celebrated the announcements by Sens. Tom Carper, Democrat of Delaware, and Mark Kirk, Republican of Illinois, that they support marriage equality.  Kirk is the second current Republican Senator to support marriage for gay and lesbian couples and with his announcement, half of the United States Senate supports marriage equality.  Both Kirk and Carper represent states where legislatures are currently considering marriage equality bills.

HRC President Chad Griffin issued the following statement:

“Senator Kirk and Senator Carper have shown tremendous leadership in announcing their support for marriage equality.  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.”

The Human Rights Campaign is America's largest civil rights organization working to achieve lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender equality. By inspiring and engaging all Americans, HRC strives to end discrimination against LGBT citizens and realize a nation that achieves fundamental fairness and equality for all.

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