Gay son causes Republican Senator to support gay marriage
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Ohio senator Rob Portman made a dramatic reversal on Friday to become the first sitting Republican in the Senate to back same-sex marriage, citing a personal reason: the discovery that his 21-year-old son is gay.
In an op-ed for the Columbus Dispatch, Portman, who was on Mitt Romney's short-list of vice-presidential running mates in 2012, wrote: "I have come to believe that if two people are prepared to make a lifetime commitment to love and care for each other in good times and in bad, the government shouldn't deny them the opportunity to get married."
In a touching note, Portman's son Will tweeted on Friday: "Especially proud of my dad today."
As a member of the House of Representatives in 1996, Portman voted in favour of the Defence of Marriage Act, which defines marriage as between a man and a woman, and excludes gay couples from tax and other benefits available to straight people.
Portman said he and his wife had a rethink two years ago after Will, at the time in his first year at Yale, informed them he was gay. Portman said that up until that point he had had no inkling that his son was anything other than straight.
This is still nothing to applaud because it shows the conservative mindset and how they never give a damn about issues (social and economic) unless they hit close to home. Why does his son have to be gay for him to support same-sex marriage? Why couldn't he support it because of the gay men and women who have died fighting for this country? My point exactly.
This is still nothing to applaud because it shows the conservative mindset and how they never give a damn about issues (social and economic) unless they hit close to home. Why does his son have to be gay for him to support same-sex marriage? Why couldn't he support it because of the gay men and women who have died fighting for this country? My point exactly.
True, but I'd rather have him change his mindset because of this than not at all.
Hopefully it leads to him being more open-minded and vocally supportive in the future.
This is still nothing to applaud because it shows the conservative mindset and how they never give a damn about issues (social and economic) unless they hit close to home. Why does his son have to be gay for him to support same-sex marriage? Why couldn't he support it because of the gay men and women who have died fighting for this country? My point exactly.
Sometimes it takes something hitting close to home before somebody's eyes are opened. He may have only came to a new opinion because of his son, but he didn't have to publicly admit it to everybody that he'd changed his mind.
The fact that he is only supporting gay marriage because he learned that his son is gay is garbage not sufficient. It's not even genuine support; it's personal support between him and his son and that's it.
Better than nothing I guess. Actually, no, nothing would indeed be better.
I was waiting for this title to end with 'resign' or 'commit suicide' tbh.
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Originally posted by evo
The fact that he is only supporting gay marriage because he learned that his son is gay is garbage not sufficient. It's not even genuine support; it's personal support between him and his son and that's it.
Better than nothing I guess. Actually, no, nothing would indeed be better.
Agreed, but change on this issue - no matter how it comes, is a good thing. This man will remain forever ignorant despite his change of heart, but he's a number we need on our side so we need to take it.
I was waiting for this title to end with 'resign' or 'commit suicide' tbh.
Agreed, but change on this issue - no matter how it comes, is a good thing. This man will remain forever ignorant despite his change of heart, but he's a number we need on our side so we need to take it.
