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Aaron Schock | FILE (Ashlee Rezin/Chicago Sun-Times via AP)

CHICAGO (AP) — Former Illinois U.S. Rep. Aaron Schock has come out as gay in social media and web posts, saying he would do more if he were in Congress today to support LGBTQ rights.

In the postings on Instagram and a webpage, the 38-year-old also describes his anguish at being rejected by members of his deeply religious family, including his mother, after they learned last year he was gay.

The longtime Republican laments that he once opposed gay marriage.  Schock says he now understands that he owes a lot to those activists who support the LGBTQ rights he opposed for so long.