CHICAGO (AP) – Chicago Mayor Richard Daley entered a national debate over marriage for gays and lesbians when he said he would have “no problem” with Cook County issuing marriage licenses to gay and lesbian couples.

“Some people have a difference of opinion – that only a man and a woman can get married,” Daley said. “But in the long run, we have to understand what they’re saying. They love each other just as much as anyone else.”

However, Daley said only the Cook County Clerk’s office has the legal authority to issue marriage licenses, and he did not say he would copy San Francisco Mayor Gavin Newsom by approving marriage licenses for same-sex couples.

Cook County Clerk David Orr said he was “game to looking at options,” but only if a consensus could be built between Daley, city and county government and advocacy groups.

“I’m fed up with people being discriminated against because of their sexual orientation,” Orr said. “(But) whatever you do when it comes to challenging laws, you want it to be effective and not knee-jerk.”

Last fall the county board authorized Orr to issue certificates of domestic partnership that carry no legal rights.

Daley also dismissed a suggestion that marriage between gay and lesbian couples would undermine the institution.

“Marriage has been undermined by divorce, so don’t tell me about marriage,” Daley said. “Don’t blame the gay and lesbian, transgender and transsexual community.”

Daley’s comments represent “another step in the right direction,” said Rick Garcia, political director for the gay and lesbian rights group Equality Illinois.

“This is an especially welcome position given that Mayor Daley is not some left-winger,” Garcia said. “He’s a Midwestern, Catholic, mainstream kind of guy.”