All people or just his son?

On Friday, a Senator from Ohio reversed his position on gay marriage.

The conservative announced that although he had repeatedly voted against gay rights, he now believes that marriage “is something that we should allow people to do.”

All people.

Why this sudden change of heart? His son is gay.

As a person who thinks the ban on gay marriage is ludicrous, embarrassing and appalling, I suppose I should be heralding the senator’s announcement as a win for the good guys.

Hallelujah! A Republican finally saw the light!

But strangely I don’t feel that way. Instead I feel disdainful of this turnaround.

Yes, he’s finally saying the right thing but is he saying it for the right reasons?

Does he really believe all people should have the right to marry or just his son?

In the CNN interview he even says “…to get married, and to have the joy and stability of marriage that I’ve had for over 26 years. That I want all of my children to have, including our son, who is gay.”

Maybe the reason he is shedding his bigotry doesn’t matter. Maybe the fact that he’s choosing his son over his party, his religious beliefs and his prejudice is good enough.

But it doesn’t seem genuine to me, just self-serving.