South Dakota: Sen. Tim Johnson supports marriage equality

Sen. Tim Johnson (S.D.) leaves the Final Four. There are now only three Senate Democrats who oppose gay marriage—Joe Manchin (W.Va.), Mark Pryor (Ark.), and Mary Landrieu (La.).

“After lengthy consideration, my views have evolved sufficiently to support marriage equality legislation,” said Johnson. “This position doesn’t require any religious denomination to alter any of its tenets; it simply forbids government from discrimination regarding who can marry whom.”

Johnson’s has announced he plans to retire at the end of his current term (which ends in 2014) which gives him some room to maneuver in his socially conservative state.

In 2006, South Dakota banned not only same-sex marriage, but also civil unions and domestic partnerships with a constitutional amendment backed by 52% of voters.

There are now 54 sitting Senators who endorse same-sex marriage.

(via Time)