Isn't it amazing how personal experience can change a person's mind? I just hope that he can realize if he was wrong about this, he just might be wrong about other "moral" issues. I've highlighted one bit that was of particular interest. Any editorial emoticons are mine.

CNN Exclusive: One conservative's dramatic reversal on gay marriage
By Dana Bash, CNN Chief Congressional Correspondent
updated 7:16 AM EDT, Fri March 15, 2013

Washington (CNN) -- You probably recognize Sen. Rob Portman from his tireless campaigning for Mitt Romney in 2012. He was even on the short list to be Romney's running mate.

He's been a leading Republican voice on economic issues for four decades.

Now, the prominent Ohio conservative will be known for something else: reversing his hardline position against gay marriage.

He invited CNN to his Senate office to reveal the news.

"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 told CNN.

It has to do with another revelation, one deeply personal. His 21-year-old son, Will, is gay.

"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.
...........

Last year, when Romney was vetting Portman to be his running mate, the Ohio Republican informed both Romney and his top campaign advisers that he has a gay son.

"I told Mitt Romney everything," said Portman with a laugh. "That process is, intrusive would be one way to put it. But, no, yeah, I told him everything."

Portman, who was ultimately passed over as the GOP vice-presidential candidate in favor of Rep. Paul Ryan, said the fact that his son is gay was not the deal breaker for Romney. How does he know?

"Well, because they told me," said Portman.



http://www.cnn.com/2013/03/15/politics/ ... ?hpt=hp_c1

I'm thinking Portman is naïve to believe that having a gay son was "not a deal breaker" to the Romney campaign ~ but I love that he has evolved because of his love for his son ~ this also supports my repeated comments that knee-jerk hate/bigotry is based in ignorance and fear of the "unknown", the "different" ~

Sooz

Precisely sooz. Think of the historical evidence. People feared and ostracized the mentally ill before more was understood and medications developed. People who had epilepsy were considered evil. Exorcisms were the norm. I'm sure somewhere there are still groups who perform exorcisms, or something similar, on gays to "cast out the demon" and make them "normal".

Well, let's see if Portman goes the way of Colin Powell, Dick Luger and others.

Boehner too is now saying he would not change his position if he had a gay son ~ my personal preference would be for those whose epiphany came purely for personal reasons reaching the same decision just because it's the right thing to do ~ but what's important is that they DO now support marriage equality ~ to add some perspective/context here, even Darth Cheney now supports marriage equality ~ ~ Sooz

Slamming Portman, GOP Rep Says He Would Still Oppose Marriage Equality If His Son Came Out
By Scott Keyes, Adam Peck and Zack Beauchamp on Mar 16, 2013 at 1:37 pm

NATIONAL HARBOR, Maryland — Rep. Tim Huelskamp (R-KS) attacked Sen. Rob Portman (R-OH) for supporting marriage equality at the Conservative Political Action Conference (CPAC) on Friday.

Speaking in a sideroom, Huelskamp blasted Portman’s announcement this week that he has evolved to favor same-sex marriage two years after learning his own son was gay. “Here’s a senator who couldn’t deliver his own home state in the presidential election,” Huelskamp said dismissively. He continued, “somehow, we’re supposed to believe that if we abandon traditional marriage, that liberals are going to flock to us,” calling Portman’s position a “capitulation.”

ThinkProgress asked Huelskamp whether he would re-examine his own feelings on marriage equality if it turned out he had a gay son like Portman, but the Kansas Republican was unmoved by the prospect. “I support traditional marriage,” Huelskamp simply retorted.


Watch it:


http://thinkprogress.org/lgbt/2013/03/16/1729021/tim-huelskamp-marriage-equality/