Ohio Senator Rob Portman, one of a
handful of Republican U.S. senators who support marriage equality,
fears a court ruling allowing gay couples to marry might be met with
resistance.
A federal judge on Monday struck down a
key portion of Ohio's 2004 voter-approved ban, ruling that the state
must recognize the out-of-state marriages of gay and lesbian couples.
(Related: Judge
orders Ohio to recognize marriages of 4 gay couples.)
“I think this issue is being resolved
from friends talking to friends, neighbors to neighbors, within
families,” Portman told Columbus
CBS affiliate WBNS. “My concern about having an edict come
down from the federal courts is that you're going to have a lot of
push back rather than having a conversation take place, which is
happening, right now.”
Last year, Portman announced in an
op-ed that he had reversed course on the issue of marriage equality
and credited his son's recent coming out for the change of heart.
“It's the right thing to do. My
sense is it's moving in that direction. I just believe in my heart
it's the right thing to do. We shouldn't discriminate against
people,” Portman said.
“I think here in Ohio and around the
country opinions are changing,” he added. “I don't think we
should be telling people because they're gay they can't have a job.
I don't think we should be telling people because they are gay they
can't have the joy and stability I've had in my marriage and I wish
for others.”