WASHINGTON -- A "who’s-who" list of prominent, mainstream Republicans have signed a “friend of the court” brief that will be sent to the U.S. Supreme Court in support of marriage equality, a direct rebuke of the Republican Party platform that condemned same-sex marriage.

WASHINGTON – Plaintiffs challenging California’s Proposition 8 today filed their brief with the U.S. Supreme Court in Hollingsworth v. Perry, urging the justices to recognize the fundamental right of all Americans to marry by affirming the landmark federal court of appeals ruling that upheld the historic decision of the federal district court that found Proposition 8 unconstitutional.

WASHINGTON –The Center for American Progress and Gay & Lesbian Advocates & Defenders today released the results of a national voter survey showing an increase in public opposition to the Defense of Marriage Act (DOMA) as a clear case of discrimination and support for equal treatment for legally married same-sex couples under federal law — even if the individual polled is generally opposed to marriage equality.

(Editor's note: The Illinois Senate plans to vote on a gay-marriage bill on Valentine's Day.)

CHICAGO -- The Circuit Court of Cook County Chancery Division today denied a motion to stay the cases brought by Lambda Legal and the ACLU of Illinois seeking marriage for same-sex couples.

The motion, brought by The Thomas More Society, attempted to delay any action in the case pending decisions in two federal marriage cases up for review in the United States Supreme Court, United States v. Windsor and Hollingsworth v. Perry.