Washington, D.C. – Today, Alaska Senator Lisa Murkowski became the third Senate Republican to support marriage equality, joining her GOP colleagues Senators Rob Portman (R-OH) and Mark Kirk (R-IL). In a statement posted on her website, Murkowski remarks: “I support marriage equality and support the government getting out of the way to let that happen.”  Log Cabin Republicans issued the following statement in response:

“This is courage,” said Log Cabin Republicans National Executive Director Gregory T. Angelo. “Senator Murkowski could have waited for the pending Supreme Court rulings on the landmark cases being decided this month, but instead chose to stand up for what’s right without wasting another day. I encourage everyone to read Senator Murkowski’s full op-ed about why, as a committed Republican, she felt the need to support civil marriage equality for all. She articulates perfectly the inherent compatibility between a conservative, limited government worldview and support for marriage equality. Also, the Senator’s statements show the power everyday gay Americans have when they live their lives with honesty and pride — that’s courage, too. By spending time with a loving military family headed by two moms, the Senator was able to see what more and more Americans are seeing: that, gay or straight, a commitment to marriage and family are what family values are all about.”