CHANGE OF HEART

Sen. Portman Reverses Gay Marriage Stance

After learning his own son is gay.

Same-sex marriage advocates: 1, Defense of Marriage Act: 0. Ohio Sen. Rob Portman stunned Washington on Thursday when he told a local Ohio newspaper, The Cincinnati Enquirer, that he has had a “change of heart” on the issue of same-sex marriage. “I’ve come to the conclusion that for me, personally, I think this is something that we should allow people to do, get married.” A co-sponsor of the controversial 1996 Defense of Marriage Act, Portman says the reversal of his stance on gay marriage began when his son Will told him that he was gay in 2011. The Ohio native says he is now approaching the topic “from the position of a father” who wants all his children, including his son, to be able to get married.