Kudos to Ohio Republican Senator Rob Portman...

by: Les Carpenter
Rational Nation USA
Liberty -vs- Tyranny

Senator Rob Portman

There is not much anyone needs to add to the following. Other than an additional thumbs up for Senator Portman. My hat's off to the Republican senator from Ohio.

The Columbus Dispatch - 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.

That isn’t how I’ve always felt. 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.

Two years ago, my son Will, then a college freshman, told my wife, Jane, and me that he is gay. He said he’d known for some time, and that his sexual orientation wasn’t something he chose; it was simply a part of who he is. Jane and I were proud of him for his honesty and courage. We were surprised to learn he is gay but knew he was still the same person he’d always been. The only difference was that now we had a more complete picture of the son we love.

At the time, my position on marriage for same-sex couples was rooted in my faith tradition that marriage is a sacred bond between a man and a woman. 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. {Read More}

My respect for Senator Portman just ratcheted up a notch, not that I didn't already respect the Senator.

Mr. Portman no doubt agonized over his long held traditional Christen beliefs and how to reconcile them with the reality his own son was a gay individual. Ultimately the Senator made the right decision as any rational, logical individual would. Hopefully the Senator's frank and open disclosure will have a positive impact on socons and evangelical Christians who are less inclined to reasonable tolerance.

Via: Memeorandum