Rob Portman says gay marriage is ok.

[AddieBelle]

Sen. Rob Portman from Ohio played a big part in the defense of marriage act. (I believe he took part in writing it....maybe) Anyways, he has changed his views on gay marriage since his son came out. He now says he wants gay people to have the same rights as anyone else.

[gustava]

He'll have to get in line behind Dick Cheney. Hypocrites! It's OK to hate gays until he or she is "your" gay.

[AddieBelle]

At least its one less person voting for this stupid "defend marriage" garbage. That one vote may be one they need.

[sparkles]

He'll have to get in line behind Dick Cheney. Hypocrites! It's OK to hate gays until he or she is "your" gay.

I guess I don't really care how they get there as long as they DO get there. Maybe as more and more hardliners realize that gays aren't just a faceless representation of evil and the downfall of civilization but are real people--sons, daughters, mothers, fathers, brothers and sisters--it might start to open up other closed minds. You never know.

[ILoveJellybeans]

I dont have a problem with people realising that gay people arent bad when they meet a gay person who is nice and just like an ordinary person, or when someone they know comes out. As long as they realise that, it doesnt matter where their ideas come from.

Most people who are homophobic dont know what gay people are like other than things theyve got from propaganda and heard from other bigots, so it does make sense that meeting a gay person can change someones mind.

[asinglevoice]

I don't know if I'm having a particularly sensitive/bitter day today or what, but this just kind of rubs me the wrong way. So now that his son is gay, Portman couldn't imagine denying him the same rights that he himself enjoys with his wife, but when it was somebody else's son or daughter it was okay? And "Senator starts to morph into a decent human being" is a CNN headline? Should've been doing that already, dude.

[AnywhereButHere]

http://www.dispatch.com/content/stories ... rried.html

I read his commentary on why and how he changed his opinion, and maybe I'm being taken in, but it seemed genuine and honest. I'm glad that his love for his son made him actually stop and think about how his views could hurt someone he loves and then change his views rather than try to change (or reject) his son. I'm used to reading these things with a jaded eye, so I was surprised to find that I thought he was speaking from his heart. Either way, I'm glad he's come to this decision and hope he can help make a difference.

[ceg045]

As much as I wish basic human decency/empathy would be sufficient grounds for everyone to support gay marriage, I know that's not realistic. If his son's experience was the catalyst for the change, then I'll take it. One less person for prejudice is OK with me. Talk about a "take out the trash day" news dump though, right before St. Paddy's Day weekend.

[Nothing2CHere]

Being a liberal-minded person from Ohio, this was all over my Facebook newsfeed this morning. I actually felt a glimmer of hope for Ohio when I read about this, because currently gay marriage is illegal here.

I follow Connie Shultz on Facebook, my self-proclaimed Fairy Godmother and wife of Ohio's other US Senator, Sherrod Brown. She just posted on her feed that Senator Portman is receiving lots of nasty comments on his Facebook page following his declaration, and encouraging those of us who support it to leave him some words of support.

[BlondeAgent007]

It kind of sucks that it took his own son coming out of the closet to change his mind. But honestly? Most of the time people take up causes because it effects someone they know, like breast cancer. At least he admitted he was wrong and is supportive NOW. He can't change what he said in the past, but he can change legislation now so that people aren't denied rights anymore.

[ThatSnark]

Good for him, and good for everyone. It's unfortunate that he held contrary views in the past, but now that he can clearly see that "the gays" are just a subset of "us," he's finally able to see that it's a civil rights issue. He's in a position of power where he can help create and pass legislation for change, and that is a very good development.

It's also cheering to see that a hardliner can change and is willing to be public about it.

[valsa]

I don't know if I'm having a particularly sensitive/bitter day today or what, but this just kind of rubs me the wrong way. So now that his son is gay, Portman couldn't imagine denying him the same rights that he himself enjoys with his wife, but when it was somebody else's son or daughter it was okay? And "Senator starts to morph into a decent human being" is a CNN headline? Should've been doing that already, dude.

It rubs me the wrong way too but, then again, I'm always bitter ;)

[Tish Cook]

Sometimes people just aren't capable of understanding a situation until they find themselves in it. I am happy that he has come to the realization that basic human rights apply to everyone and applaud the fact that he did stand up and make his feelings known regardless of the backlash he will received from some fellow republicans. He loves his son, that's good enough for me!

[keen23]

I think that a lot of "hate" is based on fear. If it takes a person finding out that a loved one is gay to change their minds about marriage equality, then, so be it.

[paganhomeschooler]

Being a liberal-minded person from Ohio, this was all over my Facebook newsfeed this morning. I actually felt a glimmer of hope for Ohio when I read about this, because currently gay marriage is illegal here.

I follow Connie Shultz on Facebook, my self-proclaimed Fairy Godmother and wife of Ohio's other US Senator, Sherrod Brown. She just posted on her feed that Senator Portman is receiving lots of nasty comments on his Facebook page following his declaration, and encouraging those of us who support it to leave him some words of support.

Fellow Ohioan here. Will go and leave some positive feedback. Ohio really needs to get out of the dark ages. I just hate living here.

(I agree with you, at least I think it was you, about the seafood, too. Red Lobster is about the only place I know of you can get clams around here.)

[YPestis]

Well, I'm glad that the senator has come around to this after his son came out. However, it's also sad that so many anti-gay people are that way because they never thought that what they were doing was hurting real people, until it hurts them. I guess we shouldn't be too hard on the good senator because he accepted his son instead of pushing his son out the door.

[Nothing2CHere]

(I agree with you, at least I think it was you, about the seafood, too. Red Lobster is about the only place I know of you can get clams around here.)

Nope, that wasn't me. You need to come visit me up by Lake Erie, it's not too bad living in this part of Ohio ;)

[valsa]

I guess we shouldn't be too hard on the good senator because he accepted his son instead of pushing his son out the door.

I hate this mentality. It's the same mentality that pats fathers on the back for "babysitting" their own children or stands in awe of men who suddenly care about rape culture or harrassment of women when they become husbands and fathers.

People shouldn't get extra brownie points for not being horrible. I'm glad this guy changed his mind but I think that change should be greeted with a firm "Hey, it's nice that you've finally joined the land of the sane and not-assholish" not "OMG, you are so awesome! What with your ability to act like a decent human being now! Best. Father. Evar."

[OnceModestTwiceShy]

Fellow Ohioan here. Will go and leave some positive feedback. Ohio really needs to get out of the dark ages. I just hate living here.

(I agree with you, at least I think it was you, about the seafood, too. Red Lobster is about the only place I know of you can get clams around here.)

I actually had decent seafood at Columbus Fish Market. (And I'm a New Englander so you can trust me!!! ;) )

[NotALoserLikeYou]

It's hard (as we know) for someone to be raised a certain way in a family and church where this subject is talked about as being evil and anti god, that will have eternal consequences in the pits of hell...it's hard to leave a mindset like that without something happening to change your mind. I've had plenty of opinions changed by experiences. I'm glad he not only changed his stance but did so publicly, knowing his own base would not like it.

[Full enough quiver]

I'm glad he changed his mind instead of rejecting his son like some people might do. Yeah, he should've not been an asshole in the first place, but better late than never. One less homophobic asshole in Washington can only be a good thing. I think the more exposure people have to the "different" person, the more they realize they're just like you. Funny how when it's your loved one, suddenly they're a human being entitled to equal rights and not a sexual deviant.

[Librul]

He's from my neck of the woods, and he gets no brownie points from me, either. He doesn't give a damn about the pain and discrimination anyone else's son or daughter might have faced, but by the Great Balls of Tamuz, his own privileged spawn must not suffer!!!!!11!!!eleventy!!!! So glad he is now fair minded on one issue.

[Nothing2CHere]

Oh, good old Boehner, never fear! Even a hypothetical gay child won't make him change HIS stance on gay marriage. I mean, with such compelling reasons such as, "It’s what I grew up with," why would he ever have a change of heart? :roll:

http://www.salon.com/2013/03/17/boehner ... _marriage/

[apple1]

Oh, good old Boehner, never fear! Even a hypothetical gay child won't make him change HIS stance on gay marriage. I mean, with such compelling reasons such as, "It’s what I grew up with," why would he ever have a change of heart? :roll:

http://www.salon.com/2013/03/17/boehner ... _marriage/

My neck of the woods. :oops:

I will say, I didn't vote for him. However, he ran unopposed Nov 12. (I abstained on that "race" that didn't exist).

[Nothing2CHere]

Rob Portman's son, Will, has written a guest column for the Yale Daily News about his coming out process. I thought others might like to read what he had to say: yaledailynews.com/blog/2013/03/25/portman-coming-out/

This paragraph really stood out for me:

They called as soon as they got the letter. They were surprised to learn I was gay, and full of questions, but absolutely rock-solid supportive. That was the beginning of the end of feeling ashamed about who I was.

I'd like to think that if my son ever tells me he's gay that I won't be blind-sided by it, that I'll be able to be one of those parents who calmly says, "I know, dear." I'm hoping that my child and I are close enough that I'd be able to instinctively pick up on that aspect of his being. I guess it surprises me when I read how other parents are "surprised" or "shocked" when their child comes out to them, because I don't see how they couldn't have had even an inkling that maybe, just maybe their child wasn't that into the opposite sex.