Reports RawStory, Sen. Russ Feingold (D-WI) has announced his support for full gay marriage rights.

United States Senator Russ Feingold this week indicated that he not only opposes a constitutional amendment in Wisconsin to ban gay marriage and civil unions, but in fact, favors full marriage rights for gay and lesbian couples.

Calling such a ban a “mean-spirited attempt to divide Wisconsin,” Feingold urged constituents at a Paddock Lake “listening session” not to support it.

He went on to argue not just for civil unions, but gay marriage.

“Gay and lesbian couples should be able to marry and have access to the same rights, privileges and benefits that straight couples currently enjoy.” Feingold went on to add, “[This] kind of discrimination … has no place in our laws, especially in a progressive state like Wisconsin. The time has come to end this discrimination and the politics of divisiveness that has become part of this issue.”

The Senator went on to argue that religious groups do not have to recognize any civil marriage.

Huzzah Senator.