On March 15, amidst growing national support for the legalization of gay marriage and the impending Supreme Court hearings, Sen. Rob Portman '78, R-Ohio, announced his support for gay marriage in a column in the Columbus Dispatch.
As one of the nation's most prominent Republicans, Portman's statement has garnered national attention, receiving support and criticism from both parties.
After Will Portman, Portman's son, came out to his family two years ago, Portman said he came to believe that gay marriage should be legalized so that his son could marry someone he loves. The senator acknowledged his struggle in reconciling gay marriage with his Christian faith, and said he now believes that gay marriage aligns with his religious values.
"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," Portman wrote in the statement. "That isn't how I've always felt."
The announcement coincided with the Supreme Court's hearing of two cases on same-sex marriage and a poll by ABC News showing that 58 percent of Americans believe in legalization.
Support for gay marriage among prominent Republicans has been on the rise. As of March, over 100 Republicans, including former congressman Charles Bass '74, R-N.H., and David Kochel, a top advisor to 2012 presidential candidate Mitt Romney, signed a legal brief encouraging the Supreme Court to rule that gay couples have a constitutional right to marry by overturning California's Proposition 8. The case, Hollingsworth v. Perry, went before the Supreme Court for oral arguments on Tuesday.
The Supreme Court heard a companion case yesterday on the constitutionality of the Defense of Marriage Act, a federal law that only grants federal benefits to heterosexual married couples.
Support for gay marriage has grown rapidly in the Democratic Party, following President Barack Obama's announcement supporting same-sex marriage last May and former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton's statement earlier this month.
Portman's announcement is part of a growing movement in favor of same-sex marriage that is "simply inevitable," women's and gender studies professor Michael Bronski said.
"He is a major Republican player, so I think he's part of this vanguard of these Republicans who are surprisingly coming out in favor of same-sex marriage, which we never would've thought of during the election," he said. "I totally applaud what they're doing, but I also think we have to think that they are doing this because they don't want to be on the losing side of history."
Bronski said that while he believed Portman's announcement was genuinely inspired by his son, Portman would not have made it if there were a serious potential for political backlash.
Bronski said Portman's constituents in Ohio would not have an overwhelmingly negative response, and may now instead feel more connected to their senator.
While Portman's statement could trigger similar announcements from Republicans, it demonstrates the nationwide trend of friends and family of gay individuals showing their support of same-sex marriage, Bronski said.
"I think the lesson that many people are drawing from the Portman support is that if people come out, it'll change people's minds," he said.
In his column, Portman cited the importance of Americans' personal experiences with gay friends and family members across the country.
"Ronald Reagan said all great change in America begins at the dinner table, and that's been the case in my family," he wrote.
National gay rights advocacy organization Gay and Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation has taken a similar stance on the importance of personal experiences in increasing support for gay marriage, said Aaron McQuade, a news and field media director. Experience with a gay friend or family member causes people to see gay marriage as a human, rather than political, issue, and this conception of gay marriage will increase individual and cultural acceptance, he said.
"I think [it's] is more indicative of what we're seeing having a large effect, which is more gay people coming out and telling their stories," McQuade said. "The more people actually have conversations with gay people and get to know their lives, they'll see that they're no different than anyone else and be more supportive of marriage equality."
Like Bronski, McQuade expects further movement towards acceptance of same-sex marriage. This support may become increasingly prevalent among politicians, the justice system and everyday Americans, he said.
Government professor Linda Fowler agreed that the highly public nature of Portman's statement will affect the national debate, though she added that his decision to support gay marriage is "intensely personal" for the Portman family. The public statements of prominent people legitimizes the views of everyday Americans, she said.
Fowler noted that public opinion has changed surprisingly fast.
"I think what's important to remember is that political scientists have never seen such a rapid change in political attitudes about any other social issue, whether its attitudes towards blacks, towards women, towards health care, towards anything," she said. "So Senator Portman is hardly unique, in fact he has lots of company."
Alumni appreciate the Dartmouth connection to the national issue as they watch former classmates engage in current events, said Caroline Kerr '05, president of the Dartmouth Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual and Transgender Alumni Association, known as DGALA.
"The DGALA leadership has heard from Dartmouth alums who are proud and encouraged by Senator Portman's announcement," she said. "Our alums hold a range of visible leadership roles, so I think there is always interest in their work and opinions as both leaders and members of the Dartmouth community."
Students said Portman's statement is part of an overall shift in favor of gay marriage acceptance among both Democrats and Republicans.
Republicans who support same-sex marriage can explain their views in terms of conservative values, College Republicans president J.P. Harrington '14 said. Supporting gay marriage is related to being pro-marriage and supports Republican ideals, as does creating more families, he said.
Harrington added that despite the possible reconciliation of gay marriage with Republican ideals, Republicans should not feel forced to become more centrist, as doing so may lead to electoral losses.
"I think capitulating to the left and saying we have to support gay marriage is not a successful strategy," he said. "I think anyone who runs as a less liberal candidate as opposed to a conservative candidate will continue to lose elections."
College Democrats president Mason Cole '13 said Portman's strategy was politically viable since it aligns with the momentum in favor of same-sex marriage.
"It was very exciting to see not just him but a number of politicians across the political spectrum now endorsing marriage equality," Cole said. "I think it will be a net positive, especially for young voters."
Though support for gay marriage among Republicans has been slower to increase, Portman's statement may encourage more Republicans to voice support for same-sex marriage. Entire groups of Republican voters, particularly the party's youngest members, may come to agree with Portman.
Cole said that this might especially be true if the Supreme Court rules in favor of same-sex marriage.
Such a decision would place pressure on elected representatives to voice their support as well, he said.
The simultaneous nature of Portman's statement, new polls and the Supreme Court cases are not coincidental, said Liz Owen, director of communications at gay rights advocacy organization PFLAG.
"This not a phase, this is a revolution," Owen said. "This is the next great civil rights debate of our time, and it's an exciting time. You can feel the changes coming."
