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| Republican senator Rob Portman announces support for gay marriage | Republican senator Rob Portman announces support for gay marriage |
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| Ohio senator Rob Portman made a dramatic reversal on Friday to become the first sitting Republican in the Senate to back same-sex marriage, citing a personal reason: the discovery that his 21-year-old son is gay. | Ohio senator Rob Portman made a dramatic reversal on Friday to become the first sitting Republican in the Senate to back same-sex marriage, citing a personal reason: the discovery that his 21-year-old son is gay. |
| In an op-ed for the Columbus Dispatch, Portman, who was on Mitt Romney's short-list of vice-presidential running mates in 2012, wrote: "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." | In an op-ed for the Columbus Dispatch, Portman, who was on Mitt Romney's short-list of vice-presidential running mates in 2012, wrote: "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." |
| In a touching note, Portman's son Will tweeted on Friday: "Especially proud of my dad today." | In a touching note, Portman's son Will tweeted on Friday: "Especially proud of my dad today." |
| As a member of the House of Representatives in 1996, Portman voted in favour of the Defence of Marriage Act, which defines marriage as between a man and a woman, and excludes gay couples from tax and other benefits available to straight people. | As a member of the House of Representatives in 1996, Portman voted in favour of the Defence of Marriage Act, which defines marriage as between a man and a woman, and excludes gay couples from tax and other benefits available to straight people. |
| Portman said he and his wife had a rethink two years ago after Will, at the time in his first year at Yale, informed them he was gay. Portman said that up until that point he had had no inkling that his son was anything other than straight. | Portman said he and his wife had a rethink two years ago after Will, at the time in his first year at Yale, informed them he was gay. Portman said that up until that point he had had no inkling that his son was anything other than straight. |
| The senator discussed it with his community, his pastor and former vice-president Dick Cheney, whose daughter Mary is a lesbian. | The senator discussed it with his community, his pastor and former vice-president Dick Cheney, whose daughter Mary is a lesbian. |
| Gay rights groups welcomed Portman's change of heart. They are not naive enough to interpret it as he beginning of a wholesale change on the part of the Republican party, but see it rather as part of an evolving nationwide shift in attitudes. | Gay rights groups welcomed Portman's change of heart. They are not naive enough to interpret it as he beginning of a wholesale change on the part of the Republican party, but see it rather as part of an evolving nationwide shift in attitudes. |
| They greeted the announcement, even though they privately acknowledged frustration about politicians standing on 'principles' when issues applied to other families, and change them when it becomes personal. | They greeted the announcement, even though they privately acknowledged frustration about politicians standing on 'principles' when issues applied to other families, and change them when it becomes personal. |
| The Obama administration has branded Doma unconstitutional and the supreme court is due to hear a challenge to the law at the end of March. | The Obama administration has branded Doma unconstitutional and the supreme court is due to hear a challenge to the law at the end of March. |
| As well as his op-ed for the Columbus Dispatch, Portman called together a group of reporters in Ohio to inform them on Thursday and also gave an interview to CNN. | As well as his op-ed for the Columbus Dispatch, Portman called together a group of reporters in Ohio to inform them on Thursday and also gave an interview to CNN. |
| In the Columbus Dispatch, he wrote: "As a congressman, and more recently as a senator, I opposed marriage for same-sex couples. Then something happened that led me to think through my position in a much deeper way. | In the Columbus Dispatch, he wrote: "As a congressman, and more recently as a senator, I opposed marriage for same-sex couples. Then something happened that led me to think through my position in a much deeper way. |
| "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 wrote. | "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 wrote. |
| "I wrestled with how to reconcile my Christian faith with my desire for Will to have the same opportunities to pursue happiness and fulfillment as his brother and sister. Ultimately, it came down to the Bible's overarching themes of love and compassion and my belief that we are all children of God." | "I wrestled with how to reconcile my Christian faith with my desire for Will to have the same opportunities to pursue happiness and fulfillment as his brother and sister. Ultimately, it came down to the Bible's overarching themes of love and compassion and my belief that we are all children of God." |
| He added: "British Prime Minister David Cameron has said he supports allowing gay couples to marry because he is a conservative, not in spite of it. I feel the same way. We conservatives believe in personal liberty and minimal government interference in people's lives. We also consider the family unit to be the fundamental building block of society. We should encourage people to make long-term commitments to each other and build families, so as to foster strong, stable communities and promote personal responsibility." | He added: "British Prime Minister David Cameron has said he supports allowing gay couples to marry because he is a conservative, not in spite of it. I feel the same way. We conservatives believe in personal liberty and minimal government interference in people's lives. We also consider the family unit to be the fundamental building block of society. We should encourage people to make long-term commitments to each other and build families, so as to foster strong, stable communities and promote personal responsibility." |
| When he was being vetted for the vice-presidential candidate's slot, he had told Mitt Romney about his son. "I told Mitt Romney everything. That process is, intrusive would be one way to put it. But, no, yeah, I told him everything," Portman told CNN. | When he was being vetted for the vice-presidential candidate's slot, he had told Mitt Romney about his son. "I told Mitt Romney everything. That process is, intrusive would be one way to put it. But, no, yeah, I told him everything," Portman told CNN. |
| He now favours Congress repealing the part of Doma that bans federal recognition of gay marriage, though he still backs the right of states to decide. | He now favours Congress repealing the part of Doma that bans federal recognition of gay marriage, though he still backs the right of states to decide. |
| Nine states back same-sex marriage but Ohio is not one of them. Portman said he does "not plan to take a leadership role" on gay marriage but wanted Ohio voters to know about his shift. | Nine states back same-sex marriage but Ohio is not one of them. Portman said he does "not plan to take a leadership role" on gay marriage but wanted Ohio voters to know about his shift. |
| Christian evangelicals, largely opposed to same-sex marriage, have a large presence in parts of Ohio. Conservative websites carried comments expressing support for Portman at a personal level but arguing that his personal experience did not change the principle that marriage should be between a man and a woman. | Christian evangelicals, largely opposed to same-sex marriage, have a large presence in parts of Ohio. Conservative websites carried comments expressing support for Portman at a personal level but arguing that his personal experience did not change the principle that marriage should be between a man and a woman. |
| The Human Rights Campaign, which lobbies for gay rights, welcomed Portman's conversion, saying he "made the basic and courageous choice to put parenting before politics." | The Human Rights Campaign, which lobbies for gay rights, welcomed Portman's conversion, saying he "made the basic and courageous choice to put parenting before politics." |
| The group's president, Chad Griffin, said: "When it comes to marriage equality, all Americans are on the same journey toward recognising our common humanity." | The group's president, Chad Griffin, said: "When it comes to marriage equality, all Americans are on the same journey toward recognising our common humanity." |
| Parents, Families and Friends of Lesbians and Gays, which has about 200,000 members nationwide and was established 40 years ago, welcomed Portman's switch. | Parents, Families and Friends of Lesbians and Gays, which has about 200,000 members nationwide and was established 40 years ago, welcomed Portman's switch. |
| PFLAG national president, Rabbi David M Horowitz, said: "By publicly sharing his son's and his own coming out journey, the senator has opened the door to changing the hearts and minds of millions about our lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender loved ones. | PFLAG national president, Rabbi David M Horowitz, said: "By publicly sharing his son's and his own coming out journey, the senator has opened the door to changing the hearts and minds of millions about our lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender loved ones. |
| "Senator Portman simply wants for his son what every parent wants for their child: a loving and committed relationship that brings him joy and security. | "Senator Portman simply wants for his son what every parent wants for their child: a loving and committed relationship that brings him joy and security. |
| "As the president of PFLAG National, an Ohioan and most of all a parent who loves his child, I applaud the senator for sharing his personal story." | "As the president of PFLAG National, an Ohioan and most of all a parent who loves his child, I applaud the senator for sharing his personal story." |
| But former Republican House speaker Newt Gingrich, one of the contenders for the party's presidential nomination last year, told CNN there were three main responses when a parent is informed a child is gay. | But former Republican House speaker Newt Gingrich, one of the contenders for the party's presidential nomination last year, told CNN there were three main responses when a parent is informed a child is gay. |
| "You can say: I believe my principles so much, I'm kicking you out. You can say: I still believe in my principles, but I love you. Or you can say, gee, I love you so much I am changing my principles," Gingrich said. "Rob picked the third path. That's his prerogative." | "You can say: I believe my principles so much, I'm kicking you out. You can say: I still believe in my principles, but I love you. Or you can say, gee, I love you so much I am changing my principles," Gingrich said. "Rob picked the third path. That's his prerogative." |
| But Gingrich, who has been married three times, said he stood by his belief that marriage is between a man and a woman, and predicted that definition would remain federal law. "I don't think they [politicians] have the power to change what is a religiously inspired definition," he said. | But Gingrich, who has been married three times, said he stood by his belief that marriage is between a man and a woman, and predicted that definition would remain federal law. "I don't think they [politicians] have the power to change what is a religiously inspired definition," he said. |
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