Will Portman: Ohio Senator’s Gay Son Slammed By Conservatives
After Will Portman caused his dad to reverse his stance on gay marriage, conservative pundits have begun attacking the politician’s son for his sexual identity.
Will is the 21-year-old son of Senator Rob Portman, a Republican from Ohio. After Will came out to his family as gay, Rob decided to reverse his stance on same-sex marriage and come out in support of marriage rights for all Americans.
Now Will Portman has come under attack.
The right wing blog Government Is Not God wrote directly to Rob Portman, saying that his Will’s homosexuality could “eventually kill his son from AIDS, other sexually transmitted diseases, or oral cancer.”
“Homosexual sex is ultimately just as destructive as cocaine use,” the post continued. “Would Portman suddenly call for the legalization of cocaine if his son had announced that he was a cocaine addict? Would that be ‘loving’ and “compassionate”?”
The conservative Family Research Council also attacked Will Portman, saying that lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender people “are both harmful to them and society as a whole.”Whatever his motivations, Rob Portman’s decision to support gay marriage is part of a growing trend within the GOP toward acceptance of same-sex marriage. More than 75 Republicans signed a letter in support of a challenge to California’s gay marriage ban, and for many other GOP politicians the issue has faded in importance.In response to this wave of defects, RNC chairman Reince Priebus reiterated on Wednesday the party’s opposition to gay marriage.
“I know our party believes marriage is between one man and one woman,” Priebus told MSNBC’s Luke Russert on Wednesday morning.
But Priebus noted the growing sentiment toward acceptance within the GOP, adding, “I also know that we have a party that’s going to be inclusive and is going to listen to people … That’s the type of party that I want to continue to build.”
Priebus did not mention Will Portman by name, but did say the GOP still supports Rob Portman.
