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| Will Portman (left) and Senator Rob Portman (right). |
Portman has laid all of this aside now, and he announced that he has reversed his position on gay marriage. He told CNN, "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's reversal has largely been attributed to acceptance and support of his openly gay son, Will Portman. Portman explains, "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."
Prior to the announcement, former Vice President Dick Cheney, whose daughter Mary is gay, advised Portman to "follow [his] heart."
This announcement makes Portman the first Republican senator who supports gay marriage.The timing of the announcement is especially interesting. Will Portman came out to his parents nearly two years ago. Little mention of his son was made during the 2012 election season as Portman was considered as a potential Republican vice presidential candidate. Now, the announcement comes shortly before oral arguments begin for U.S. v. Windsor, a case now reaching that Supreme Court that revolves around the Defense of Marriage Act that Portman helped pass in 1996.
It took a very personal appeal from his son for Portman to reverse his position on gay marriage. Do you think Portman will be remembered as an anomaly? Or does this reversal hold some promise of progress for LGBT rights? Additionally, consider this: is this reversal fair for the people of Ohio who elected Portman under the pretense that he opposed gay marriage? That question really comes down to the different theories of representation (discussed on pages 251-252 of our Gov textbook). Is Portman free to make this decision because he is a trustee or should his role as a delegate supersede his personal revelations?
In short: A conservative reverses his position and now supports gay marriage. Is he an exception or a future trend-setter?
4 comments:
Rob Portman is, hopefully, not an anomaly. He's definitely a first, as many Senators (Democrats and Republicans alike) are unlikely to change their minds about gay marriage. If he hadn't had such a personal tie to the issue, then chances are he wouldn't have changed his mind. It's kind of like the Civil Rights movement in the 1960s, because it takes time for people to change their ways of thinking and what they grew up with. Having personal experience can always expedite that process.
He does not owe anything to the people of Ohio, though. He was elected as a man whom they trust to make good decisions, not someone to make sure their voice is heard in the Senate. If they wanted that, then they can hire lobbyists.
Portman, being such an important figure, may be the first in a series of GOP leaders to voice their support of gay marriage. In the wake of the 2012 election, and the startling realization that an election cannot be won through misinformation, the Republican party saw a need to revise its ideals. If this is one of the issues that they change focus on, I wouldn't mind.
I think the really admirable person involved here is actually Portman's son for coming out to a father who legislated against gays. He wasn't just dealing with social prejudice in his family, but actual (if unknowing) action against him! Because he got up the courage to take this risk, he helped take what is hopefully a tremendous step for equality. It's doubtful that Portman is the only republican with gay (or other LGBTQ) people close to him. He's just the first to officially take back his prejudices for someone else's benefit. I think that he is no anomaly, but rather a trend-setter who will likely help remove the stigma the Republican party tends to place on supporting gays.
Stories like Portman's is what really highlights the importance of coming out. Putting a face that you care about to a nationwide issue really brings it close to home and can change minds. After all, it was Obama's kids who convinced him to support gay marriage in the first place. Once his kids were exposed to the gay parents of their friends in school, they began urging Obama to take a stronger stance against homophobia. I hope that the whole world sees how an effective way to change minds is by making the issue a personal one, and I hope that gay people continue to be more open about the discrimination they face, and Republicans start listening.
I would be interested to know how conservative voters feel now, after an anti gay marriage senator reverses his opinion. It is possible that the people of Ohio did not vote for Rob Portman based on his gay marriage views, however such views are highly sensitive. I wonder if there will be any backlash from voters in Ohio and I am curious to see the response from other Republican Senators.
While I agree with James that Rob Portman does not "owe" the people of Ohio, I do believe he was elected based on a platform and Ohio expects that platform to be fulfilled. This is a rather bold curve ball in the political realm of Ohio. I wouldn't go as far to say that Portman was disloyal to his voters, but I feel his change of mind is similar to saying "just kidding" after making an agreement to hold a set of values. I am curious to see how this influences the GOP as a whole.
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