IL GOP Chair: Allowing Same-Sex Marriage 'Honors the Best Conservative Principles'

The march towards marriage equality continues in Illinois, where Republican Party Chairman Pat Brady is calling on his colleagues to support a proposal to legalize same-sex marriage in the state.

"More and more Americans understand that if two people want to make a lifelong commitment to each other, government should not stand in their way," Brady said. "Giving gay and lesbian couples the freedom to get married honors the best conservative principles. It strengthens families and reinforces a key Republican value - that the law should treat all citizens equally."

According to the conservative publication Illinois Review, Brady has been making calls to legislators in support of the gay marriage bill, putting him at odds with party members and the official Illinois Republican Party platform, which only endorses the "traditional family" that is "based on the principle of marriage between one man and one woman."

Democrats hope to pass the Religious Freedom and Marriage Fairness Act during the lame-duck session, which ends with a new class of lawmakers sworn in on January 9. The bill would grant same-sex couples the same rights, protections and benefits opposite-sex couples currently enjoy, and would give churches the ability to decide to perform same-sex marriages.