Rob Portman Announces Support For Gay Marriage, Cites Gay Son’s Coming Out

Rob Portman, a Republican senator from Ohio, has claimed to now support same-sex marriage after learning that his son is gay.

“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,” Portman wrote in an op-ed for The Columbus Dispatch.

Portman, who has long been a defender of “traditional marriage,” revealed that his change of heart came after his son Will came out as gay to both him and his wife during his freshman year of college. “Knowing that my son is gay prompted me to consider the issue from another perspective: that of a dad who wants all three of his kids to lead happy, meaningful lives with the people they love, a blessing Jane and I have shared for 26 years,” he stated.

After referring back to the Christian faith that had guided him to be an opponent of gay marriage, Portman came to the conclusion that the Biblical themes of love and compassion supported the idea of broader acceptance. The faith that had once hindered his acceptance now served to solidify it.

The senator was careful to blend his declaration of support for gay marriage with open-mindedness towards those intent on not being in favor of it. “Well-intentioned people can disagree on the question of marriage for gay couples, and maintaining religious freedom is as important as pursuing civil marriage rights,” he wrote. “For example, I believe that no law should force religious institutions to perform weddings or recognize marriages they don’t approve of.”

Portman also cited British Prime Minister David Cameron in his op-ed, as a conservative who found the idea of equal marriage rights to be intrinsically conservative. Therefore, he made an appeal towards fellow conservatives to see the logic behind his stance for gay marriage, in addition to the pathos provided by the story of his son.

“One way to look at it is that gay couples’ desire to marry doesn't amount to a threat but rather a tribute to marriage, and a potential source of renewed strength for the institution.” He continued, “I’ve thought a great deal about this issue, and like millions of Americans in recent years, I’ve changed my mind on the question of marriage for same-sex couples.”

After Portman’s revelation and not-so-veiled call to action for those on the other side of this issue, perhaps more people will be changing their minds. —Chelsea Regan

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