Illinois Gay Marriage: Ed Sullivan Jr., Second Republican Rep, Publicly Backs Marriage Equality Bill

Two Republican state representatives have announced their support for the marriage equality bill currently under consideration by the Illinois state legislature.

State Rep. Ed Sullivan Jr. of suburban Mundelein, who previously opposed civil unions for same-sex couples, told the Chicago Tribune Monday that he supports legislation that would legalize same-sex marriage in Illinois. He cited his Chicago-area mother-in-law's relationship with a woman as helping him "evolve" on the issue.

Sullivan has been joined by fellow Republican state Rep. Ron Sandack, of Downers Grove, in supporting the marriage bill, the Daily Herald reports. But Sullivan told the Tribune when the matter comes up for a full House vote, he expects they won't be the lone Republicans to support it.

"There is tremendous momentum leading up to this vote. I think we're very close," Sullivan told the Tribune. "There's many of my colleagues that have talked about this, that have said it's the right thing to do."

Sandack echoed similar sentiments to the Windy City Times, telling the LGBT newspaper that he feels legal same-sex marriage is "a question of freedom, fundamental fairness and equality under the law."

Sullivan and Sandack's announcement comes on the heels of another prominent Illinois republican -- U.S. Sen. Mark Kirk -- announcing his support for marriage equality last week. Kirk is only the second Republican senator to do so. Illinois GOP Chairman Pat Brady has also said he personally supports marriage equality.

Meanwhile, the National Organization of Marriage, a group opposed to same-sex marriage, threatened that "any Republican in Illinois who betrays the cause of marriage will be casting a career-ending vote and will be held accountable to their constituents," according to the Herald. NOM issued a similar warning after Brady's announcement last year, but a small group of lawmakers' attempted ouster of Brady has failed to gain much traction.

The Illinois state Senate has already OKed Senate Bill 10, the marriage equality bill, as has a House committee. It next must be approved in a full House vote. If it succeeds there, it would then head to the desk of Gov. Pat Quinn, who has vowed to sign it.