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Portman: Gay Marriage Ruling Is Out, Time For Americans To Unite

U.S. Senator Rob Portman (R-OH) at Port of Cleveland office (pic: Brian Bull)
U.S. Senator Rob Portman (R-OH) at Port of Cleveland office (pic: Brian Bull)

Ohioans are reacting to today’s Supreme Court ruling legalizing gay marriage in all 50 states.  This includes Ohio’s Republican U.S. Senator Rob Portman, who did an about-face on the issue in two years ago.  ideastream’s Brian Bull reports….

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Portman’s political career has been built on conservative views on many issues that resonate with his fellow Republicans in Congress and at home.  But in 2013, Portman said he no longer opposed gay marriage because his son came out that he was gay.  Speaking to reporters today in Cleveland, Portman shared his thoughts on today’s ruling.

“I would’ve preferred frankly that it’d been done by the states, not by the court," says Portman. "Because I think going through the democratic process would’ve led to more enduring change.  But the court has made its decision, I hope we’ll now be able to cut through some of the polarization and some of the division that this issue has caused, and bring the country more together.”

But conservative political watchers like  Phil Burress, President of Citizens for Community Values, a Christian organization that pushed the Ohio’s  gay marriage ban in 2004 say voters will penalize Portman at the polls next year.

“Senator Rob Portman will be defeated. People who believe in marriage as being between one man and one woman will not vote for Rob Portman.”

Senator Portman dismisses those sentiments, saying his change of heart wasn’t about politics.

“I did it as a dad,” he told WCPN earlier today.

Other conservatives who’ve spoken in support of gay marriage include former Vice President Dick Cheney and former First Lady Laura Bush.