Illinois GOP chair: ‘True conservative position’ favors same sex marriage

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Illinois Republican Party Chairman Pat Brady is calling state lawmakers on behalf of legislation that would legalize same sex marriage, according to the Daily Herald.

“I think it’s time for people to support this,” he said, referring to the Religious Freedom and Marriage Fairness Act.

Brady emphasized the calls were being made to express his personal views only. The Illinois Republican Party platform (PDF) still endorses only the “traditional family,” which is “based on the principle of marriage between one man and one woman.”

Brady told the conservative publication Illinois Review that the “true conservative position is in favor” of allowing same sex marriage.

Illinois state Rep. Greg Harris (D) and state Sen. Heather Steans (D) hope to pass the Religious Freedom and Marriage Fairness Act during the lame-duck session, which ends next week. The bill would provide married same sex couples with all the protections and benefits granted to married opposite sex couples, while allowing churches to decide whether or not they will perform same sex marriages.