For years, GOP Sen. Rob Portman stood as one of the nation’s biggest opponents against same-sex marriage, but all of that changed last week when he revealed to the world that his 21-year-old son, Will, is gay and that he now supports legalizing same-sex marriage.
In a candid interview with CNN, Portman spoke to the news network about his change of heart and explained that his love for his son helped him to decide to support marriage equality laws.
“I’m announcing today a change of heart on an issue that a lot of people feel strongly about that has to do with gay couples’ opportunity to marry,” Portman said.
“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. That I want all of my children to have, including our son, who is gay,” said Portman.
The Ohio senator explained that his son came out to him two years ago, during his freshman year of college.
“My son came to Jane, my wife, and I, told us that he was gay, and that it was not a choice, and that it’s just part of who he is, and that’s who he’d been that way for as long as he could remember,” said Portman.
Thankfully, Portman’s response to Will’s coming out was one of “love” and “support.”
We commend Portman for not only rising to the occasion and being a good and loving father to his son, but we also commend him for extending that love and sense of justice for his son to the whole nation and working to assure that all LGBT individuals have the same marriage rights as the rest of the nation. Clearly, you’re never too old to change your ways for the better, and Portman is living proof.
Check out some other conservative politicians with gay children below. –nicholas robinson
