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Portman Backs DOMA Ruling

Republican U.S. Senator Rob Portman of Ohio says he agrees with the U.S. Supreme Court's ruling striking down the federal Defense of Marriage Act. And he hopes voters overturn Ohio's ban on same-sex marriage. M.L. Schultze of member station WKSU in Kent reports.

In 1996, Rob Portman voted for the federal Defense of Marriage Act as a member of the House of Representatives. In March, he said he’s evolved – since discovering his son is gay – and now supports gay marriage. And this week, he supported the high court vote to overturn DOMA
But the conservative Republican does not want to see the courts overturn the constitutional ban on gay marriage that Ohio voters passed nearly a decade ago.
“This ought to be done through the democratic process and Ohio ought not to be told what to do in a court edict. … I think ultimately this issue is best handled by citizen persuading citizen. I think that is going to result in more enduring change.
Portman says he likely would support a referendum to have voters overturn the ban so long as it included protections for religious organizations. But he says he would likely take no leadership role in that campaign anymore than he did when the ban passed in 2004.

Jim has been with WCBE since 1996. Before that he worked as a reporter at another Columbus radio station, and for three newspapers in Southwest Florida.