Illinois: Former Republican Leader Joins Marriage Equality Fight

Illinois's former Republican Party chairman Pat Brady, who was forced out of his position for supporting marriage equality, will begin working with the state chapter of the American Civil Liberties Union to lobby other Republicans to back a pending marriage bill.

Brady was chair of the party until earlier this year, when he urged fellow Republicans to support the bill. He and Matt Strawn, the former chairman of the Iowa Republican Party, started Next Generation Public Affairs, a firm that focuses on governmental affairs and public relations. According to the Chicago Tribune, the firm will start working with the ACLU in the fight to bring marriage equality to Illinois.

The Illinois ACLU's move is similar to that of the national ACLU, which is working with former Mitt Romney campaign adviser Steve Schmidt on a $10 million campaign to support marriage equality laws.

The Illinois House is the next hurdle for the marriage bill, since the Senate already passed the legislation earlier this year. Gov. Pat Quinn has previously articulated his support for marriage equality.