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Which Republican Senator Is Offering a Shocking Endorsement of Gay Marriage After His Son Came Out?

Mar. 15, 2013 8:05am Billy Hallowell

Republican Sen. Rob Portman of Ohio is reversing course on the controversial issue of gay marriage. Rather than sticking with the party line, he came forward this week to offer support for same-sex unions. Portman’s shocking decision was made following a personal, family revelation that he’s now making public.

According to the Associated Press, Portman’s evolution on the issue began in 2011 when his son, Will, told his parents that he is gay. Rather than continuing to double-down against same-sex unions, the senator now says that he sees the issue in a new light — through the lens of a parent who wants his three children to be happy and healthy in their relationships.

U.S. Sen. Rob Portman of Ohio Supports Gay Marriage After His Son Comes Out

Sen. Rob Portman, R-Ohio. pauses to talk on Capitol Hill in Washington, Tuesday, Feb. 26, 2013, after the weekly Republican policy luncheon. Credit: AP

In speaking about his “change-of-heart” with CNN, Portman was candid.

“I’ve come to the conclusion that for me, personally, I think this is something that we should allow people to do, to get married, and to have the joy and stability of marriage that I’ve had for over 26 years,” he said. “That I want all of my children to have, including our son, who is gay.”

Watch a portion of his interview, below:

This is a stark change from the past, when Portman, in 1996, voted in support of the Defense of Marriage Act. The controversial measure defined marriage as being strictly between a man and woman and it banned the federal government from recognizing gay marriage.

He noted that his “faith tradition” had colored his views against gay marriage, but that his son’s revelation changed his position on the matter. Will, he says, blessed his decision to come forward and helped him process his thoughts before releasing his new-found stance.

“I think he’s happy and, you know, proud that we’ve come to this point, but he let it be my decision just as you know, it’s going to be his decision as to the role he plays going forward in this whole issue,” Portman said of his son.

Portman had previously discussed the issue with former Vice President Dick Cheney, his pastor and others.

Read the full CNN report for more.

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Comments (305)

catfanatic1979v1
Posted on March 15, 2013 at 10:10am
Isn’t this the guy who believes in ghosts?

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Grace1798
Posted on March 15, 2013 at 10:05am
We must be very careful NOT TO MAKE a GOD and a BIBLE to SUIT OURSELVES. That is a guarantee to losing your eternal life.

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- sparkyrules1
  Posted on March 15, 2013 at 10:13am
  those are true words.
  
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1peachy_mama
Posted on March 15, 2013 at 10:05am
So knowing that his gay son changed his view, do we now pray that members of the senate and congress have children (wait, no…they are all too old for that!)….have grandchildren who have autism and other mental illnesses so those issues can receive the support/attention they deserve?

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Grace1798
Posted on March 15, 2013 at 10:03am
LTB …. If you are going to decide what God means in His Word….best then to know it if you are dealing with eternity. Check out the NEW TESTAMENT. This is Paul teaching the disciples.

1 Corinthians 6:9 Do you not know that the unrighteous and the wrongdoers will not inherit or have any share in the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived (misled): neither the impure and immoral, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor those who participate in homosexuality, 10 Nor cheats (swindlers and thieves), nor greedy graspers, nor drunkards, nor foulmouthed revilers and slanderers, nor extortioners and robbers will inherit or have any share in the kingdom of God.

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J3player
Posted on March 15, 2013 at 9:53am
Portman is just another Sodomite.

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sparkyrules1
Posted on March 15, 2013 at 9:46am
“Portman had previously discussed the issue with former Vice President Dick Cheney, ”

Who would’ve guessed? Only an idiot.
I’ve always liked Cheney and his kid is queer.So what? Everybody knows it.Who cares? But it doesn’t change the fact that MARRIAGE IS 1 MAN and 1 WOMAN.

I have much less respect for Dick and everybody else who pushes ‘gay marriage’.Theres NO SUCH THING.

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- sparkyrules1
  Posted on March 15, 2013 at 10:03am
  I hate youtube.They are gay with Google now and I had to change my screen name to sparkyrules1.Rest assured everybody,I’m still SPARKYRULES.
  
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JSherrillj
Posted on March 15, 2013 at 9:45am
Senator, if you support gay marriage that is your choice. Now introduce a bill to repeal DOMA and don’t hide behind the robes of the supreme court. Obama came out in support of gay marriage but did not lift one finger to repeal DOMA which was signed into law by Bill Clinton a democrat. Grow a pair and introduce the bill. I am opposed to changing the definition of marriage.

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Listen_then_think
Posted on March 15, 2013 at 9:39am
I’ve come to the conclusion that for me, personally…(repetitive), how about for me impersonally? Ohio is full of traitors anyway, no surprise for this turncoat to abandon any values he said he had.

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HickoryStonewall
Posted on March 15, 2013 at 9:39am
Just because his son chose sodomy he throws over his constituency. Dross

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siguy62
Posted on March 15, 2013 at 9:36am
The whole Gay Marriage argument is a losing arguement for Conservatives. ‘We The People’ not the gov’t decide, who is an isn’t married.

If you feel that marriage is a man/woman, based upon your faith, you are entitled to your opinion, however, if you confer civil/secular rights based on that status, then you cede control to the govt, which is antithetical to the consitution.

I see only three ways to reconcile the ‘apparently’ opposed positons.

1) No civil or secular rights based on marital status. (taxes, health-care proxy, estates et al,) everyone is an individual as far as the govt is concerned. Not a good idea, but reconciles the two.

2) States issue either marriage licenses, or civil unions (ALL states would need to vote for one or the other) Either status’ would be considered equivalent, when it comes to the package of civil and secular rights. (reconciles, but allows argument over the word ‘marriage’ to continue.)

3) Govts issue only ‘unions’ to any ‘couple’ wishing to declare and cement a ‘life-time’ commitment to one another. This status is equivalent for ALL couples, with ‘regard to civil or secular’ rights. Let the individual churches decide wheter or not they wish to issue marriage licenses. (best IMHO)
It reconciles, protects people of fatih from ‘HOMOPHOBE! propaganda.

If conservatives continue to allow the argument to be about the civil/secular rights we confer based on marital status, then this continues to be a

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HickoryStonewall
Posted on March 15, 2013 at 9:36am
Just because sodomy is what his son chose he throws over the constituency which elected him? Dross.

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pwatkins
Posted on March 15, 2013 at 9:31am
Portman has a right to support anything and anyone he wants and so do I. I no longer support him and have never and never will support gay marriage even if a member of my family says they are gay. I live by my faith and follow the word of God to the grave if I am the last one standing, so be it. Choosing to follow my Savior Jesus Christ is the choice I made, not my son’s choices or some politician’s choice. I will never buy this junk about same sex is not a choice. You can make a choice and have no sex at all or we would have no priest or nuns left in the world.

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dannyo
Posted on March 15, 2013 at 9:24am
my kid loves taking in illegal aliens and helping them out until they establish some roots…i’m very afraid he is going to get caught by sheriff joe and his posse someday….guess its time for me to run for office…

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noslave
Posted on March 15, 2013 at 9:24am
you can have gay marriage,but dont put it on equal footing with socially grounded marriage with a man and a woman,they can physically have children in their image to continue the bloodline,where gays cant,its like comparing a mensa intellegent person to a grade school dropout.

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Canada_Goose
Posted on March 15, 2013 at 9:23am
Why is Mr. Portman’s endorsement so “shocking”?

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Strider26
Posted on March 15, 2013 at 9:22am
So….if his son had been a thief, a murderer, a child molester, a flasher, a rapist….would he have changed his position on those issues “because he was looking thru the lens of a parent”?

Something is either right or wrong, moral or immoral, approved or disapproved by God. We all do things that fall into those categories, but we don’t try to make them out to be OK. We recognize our failings and work at changing and/or ask forgiveness.

We are to love the sinner and hate the sin…..

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- charper1013
  Posted on March 15, 2013 at 11:20am
  Yes, because being attracted to people of the same gender is just as bad as committing murder or rape or child abuse. Whether some random person marries a man or a woman really doesn’t affect you in any way, so what’s the big deal? You’re either gay or you’re not. No straight person is going to be like “hmm, gay marriage is legal now, Imaybe I’ll try being gay!”
  
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carl_in_ohio
Posted on March 15, 2013 at 9:21am
Promoting his own personal agenda…couldn’t say it better.

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carl_in_ohio
Posted on March 15, 2013 at 9:19am
This tells you that if its in the politician’s personal best interests to change his views — he will???
so, how do we vote for anyone with the belief that they will do as they say???

so if you’re were gay – he wouldn’t defend you.
but now that HIS SON is gay – he’ll support you.
crap leadership.

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WTFurnuts
Posted on March 15, 2013 at 9:18am
well, how will the senator know he’s at one of his sons’ gay barbecues?

all the hot dogs will tate like sh#t. enjoy senator.

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Concerned Green Beret
Posted on March 15, 2013 at 9:17am
Just great, another Rhino trying to pull the Republican Party further into the abyss. So let me get this straight, instead of the parent being a parent, the parent follows the lead of the child. So if the child is a drug addict this jackass would come out and endorse drugs????? If his child is a bank robber this jackass would come out and endorse robbing banks. Damn, Americans are just so morally bankrupt!!!!!!

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eat-more-bacon-USA
Posted on March 15, 2013 at 9:07am
Accepting that your child is gay, and wanting them to be happy is a LOT DIFFERENT from endorsing “same sex marriage”. Portman is a typical, dishonest progressive – his personal beliefs about “same sex marriage” obviously have not changed, he has simply decided to tell the truth about where he stands, rather than continue to lie to those who elected him.

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chucksue351
Posted on March 15, 2013 at 9:04am
his name tell the whole story, in nautical terms the “port” side of a vessel is the left side, so his name is leftman

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grunt1947
Posted on March 15, 2013 at 9:03am
Glenn Beck supports gay marriage? When did that happen?

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Vision Harry
Posted on March 15, 2013 at 9:01am
What happens between a man and a woman are private, sacred, and special. It is no one else’s business and has no place in the public discussion. Anyone describing, defining themselves in this manner are only a tool for the Son of the Morning.

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grunt1947
Posted on March 15, 2013 at 8:59am
Sen.Portman represents “We the People” and not his own personal agenda. The lack of integrity from many of our so-called representatives is being revealed daily. If an individual is gay, so be it; it is their choice. However, they cannot hijack marriage, a divine institution from Almighty God, between one man & one woman! Sen.Portman should resign because he is incapable of separating his personal life from serving his constituents according to US Constitutional law. The rationalization Sen.Portman has used to justify his betrayal to his constituents is pitiful. I will pray for him because he has lost his way.

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- civilwarcometh
  Posted on March 15, 2013 at 9:08am
  Forget about what they are saying. It’s to keep you off your toes. What they are really doing? FM 3-39.40 Internment and Resettlement Operations
  
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