GOP Sen. Portman reverses, backs gay marriage
By The Associated Press
This article was published March 15, 2013 at 7:09 a.m.
- Comments (13)
- aAFont Size
CINCINNATI — Republican U.S. Sen. Rob Portman of Ohio says he now supports gay marriage because one of his sons is gay.
Portman said Thursday in Washington that his views began changing in 2011 when his college-age son Will told his parents he was gay.
Portman says he reconsidered gay marriage from a different perspective, one of a father who wants all three of his children to have happy lives with people they love.
He says he discussed the issue with his pastor and others, including former Vice President Dick Cheney, whose daughter is a lesbian.
As a member of the House in 1996, Portman had voted for the Defense of Marriage Act, which defines marriage as between a man and a woman and bars federal recognition of same-sex marriage.
Comments on: GOP Sen. Portman reverses, backs gay marriage
To report abuse or misuse of this area please hit the "Suggest Removal" link in the comment to alert our online managers. Read our Terms of Use policy.
You must login to make comments.
BillSmith says... March 15, 2013 at 8:54 a.m.
Oh, How different you think when you have to walk a mile in the moccasans of the people you have been demeaning for years.
( permalink | suggest removal )
Brightvalley says... March 15, 2013 at 12:03 p.m.
It's all fun and games until the law hits close to home.
( permalink | suggest removal )
tenpoint says... March 15, 2013 at 6:40 p.m.
the usa should not back gays
( permalink | suggest removal )
BillSmith says... March 15, 2013 at 6:54 p.m.
And why not tenpoint, are you some kind of religious nut case, how muh skin off you butt would this be?
( permalink | suggest removal )
rainbowharold55 says... March 15, 2013 at 8:28 p.m.
And the culture war, declared by the antigay forces keeps grinding to a slow close.
( permalink | suggest removal )
Populist says... March 15, 2013 at 9 p.m.
Tenpoint,
Love thy neighbor... Christians need to act more Christlike.
( permalink | suggest removal )
djigoo says... March 15, 2013 at 9:45 p.m.
Political expediency, and nothing more. Tragic.
( permalink | suggest removal )
Felina says... March 15, 2013 at 11:34 p.m.
If people would open their eyes they would find that if not a family member, then perhaps the family member of a friend, your doctor, your bank teller and about 10% of those you know are gay! Then, you would realize how pointless the anti-gay laws are! I hope I live to see the day when gay couples are seen to be as yawn worthy as interracial couples!
( permalink | suggest removal )
RonalFos says... March 16, 2013 at 7:23 a.m.
I have to admit having some fairly strong anti-gay feelings earlier in my life. But that changed when a gay couple bought the townhouse next to us when we lived in VA. Over the years that they lived there we got to know them really well and before they moved on they were being invited to thanksgiving dinners, parties and other events by us and our neighbors. There is nothing like really getting to know someone different than you to open your mind.
( permalink | suggest removal )
Populist says... March 16, 2013 at 9:18 a.m.
Some of the best, most loyal friends that I have ever had have been my gay, guy friends. Gay guys often have superior artistic skills, and I have found them to be very warm and considerate. It also is nice to have relationships with males without romantic problems being a bother. My husband recently hired a lesbian associate, and she is just a jewel. Her partner is lovely. Gay people often are nicer than straight. When I lived in Hillcrest, the property values improved because the gay men did such a nice job of fixing up their homes and yards. Once people know gays personally, they become less likely to be homophobic. Gay people have lived in the shadows and in fear of persecution for too long. I am glad that things seem to be changing for them.
( permalink | suggest removal )
Populist says... March 16, 2013 at 9:43 a.m.
Djiggo,
I don't think that this is about political expediency. Many people change their minds on this issue because of the orientation of their loved ones. As more people come out, the movement is growing stronger and stronger. I remember when I practiced law in Arkansas, gay people hid in the shadows in the legal and businesses communities. If you were a gay male, you often were an interior decorator, cut hair, or in the arts. Gay male lawyers had girlfriends or even wives to promote their careers. In many areas of the country, gays now can work freely in businesses and law firms without fear of repercussion. Eventually, Arkansas too will come out of the 1950s despite the Raperts of the world.
( permalink | suggest removal )
rainbowharold55 says... March 16, 2013 at 10:04 a.m.
As a gay man, I have ambivalent feelings about this. Someone as conservative as Portman changing his mind is huge. He evolved, I guess, like Obama did. But the original position on gays, well, that's a real NIMBY position. It's okay to hate, it's okay to deny someone their rights or equality IF it's not your family. Perhaps this will melt a few hateful hearts. We can only hope.
( permalink | suggest removal )
DontDrinkDatKoolAid says... March 17, 2013 at 1:19 a.m.
So now if his son was a thief, would he support crime? Probably not, thus it goes to show how weak principled Portman is, in the grand scheme of things.
( permalink | suggest removal )
To report abuse or misuse of this area please hit the "Suggest Removal" link in the comment to alert our online managers. Read our Terms of Use policy.