DPG Chair DuBose Porter’s views change on same-sex marriage

The Democratic Party of Georgia’s new chairman says he’s changed his views on gay marriage.

Former House Minority Leader DuBose Porter, who was elected this month as the state party’s leader, told the Democratic LGBT Caucus this weekend that his position toward same-sex marriage has evolved following a tumultuous divorce and a gay cousin’s marriage. According to a report and video shot by the Georgia Voice, Porter’s views have changed since he fought against openly gay state Rep. Karla Drenner, D-Avondale Estates, over a 2004 amendment to the state Constitution that would have banned gay marriage in Georgia.

You can watch Porter’s remarks in the above YouTube video. The AJC’s Jim Galloway also transcribed the comments, which you can read below:

All of us have personal experiences. Here, I went through a pretty messy divorce. What I thought was the perfect marriage just fell apart. So the commitment that I thought I had with someone was not nearly as strong as I thought it was.

My first cousin, who lives in DeKalb County, has a life partner and had to go to New York to get married. The commitment they have is stronger than the one I thought I had. It is that strong and sincere. And we need to relay that.

Former state lawmaker Jim Martin of Atlanta and I used to share offices together. Jim called me one day and said, ‘DuBose, you know our districts aren’t that different from each other.’ I said, ‘What do you mean?’ He said, ‘You have just as many gay constituents in your area as I do. They’re just not out.’

How do you have it so that everyone is comfortable where they live? The state Democratic party has that opportunity to have that conversation.

It’s better to have somebody that’s from there - you know, you need a bald-headed, fat redneck. I think I can help take that message better, in a way than just having someone from Atlanta talk about it. It’s because I believe in it and I’m not afraid to talk about it.”