A Change of Heart

    On friday, Republican Senator Rob Portman of Ohio announced that he  is no longer opposed to gay marriage. Portman, who is known for co-sponsoring the federal ban on same-sex marriage, and voting to prohibit same-sex couples in Washington from adopting children, is now the only sitting Republican senator to publicly support gay marriage. What, you may ask, caused this sudden change of heart?   Well, Portman's son came out two years ago and as this article states, he "did not want his son Will, who is 21, treated any differently because of his sexuality." I think it is interesting how this quote says that he didn't want his son treated any differently. I applaud Portman for his decision, but think it is interesting  that Portman didn't appear to have sympathy for gay people until one of his own family members came out.
     Personal experience gave Portman a reason to really think about the issue, rather than just go along with what he had always believed and with what the majority of his political party had always believed. No matter what it took to get Portman to the position in which he now stands in, I would say that it marks much progress in our society. It is a good sign that Portman, in a party known to be against same-sex marriage, was able to publicly announce his new position, instead of silently keep it to himself. Hopefully, hearing people speak out for same-sex marriage will cause others to rethink their position on the issue, not just for the sake of a family member, but for the sake of society as a whole. What do you think it will take (if anything) for more people, particularly political figures, to change their views on same-sex marriage?