This weekend, I stumbled across a TED Talk by Philip Zimbardo, author of “The Lucifer Effect,” in which he attempts to explain how good people do bad things. In his presentation, he concluded with his feelings on the exact opposite: how people become heroes. When ordinary people, he said, are faced with extraordinary circumstances, they are faced with a threshold that divides the passive observers from the active doers, and by choosing to take action, they can accomplish heroic feats.

I believe Sen. Rob Portman, R-Ohio, crossed that threshold when he publicly announced his reversal of his anti-gay marriage position after learning that his son is gay.

His change in opinion perfectly exemplifies what happens when our narrow minds are suddenly widened.

To oppose an issue is easy when it stands at a distance, but when that issue sweeps through your personal world, it can introduce an entirely different perspective. One can easily oppose the death penalty and even be able to give you legitimate reasons why, but when someone close to them is murdered, those oppositions can quickly dissipate.

Maybe some feel it shouldn’t have taken his son to come out as gay to display his support for gay marriage, but are we not all entitled to our opinions? The fact remains that many parents, especially parents whose views on gay marriage are rooted in faith, are not always so receptive when one of their children tells them they are gay. Portman’s display of unconditional support for his son is not only a positive reflection of the Republican Party, it is a positive reflection of society in general. He represents the courageous and highly underrepresented qualities we need to see more of.

Not everyone has the strength to look inside him or herself and re-evaluate their most basic beliefs. It takes even greater courage to admit they have changed their minds, and maybe even that they were wrong. This becomes an even more difficult task when involved in the political arena, where the last thing a government representative wants to do is appear weak in their convictions.

What excited me most about Portman’s reversal of opinion was his editorial he wrote for the Columbus Dispatch explaining his reasoning behind his announcement. In his column, he wrote that the issue of gay marriage became easier to consider when his paternal instincts called for an equal chance for all three of his children to lead happy and fulfilling lives the way he has had the chance to do so. He allowed compassion to guide him through his reflections, which ultimately led him to peaceful resolution. In putting his son’s needs before his own, he showed the world what it means to be a father and, most importantly, a thoughtful and empathetic human being.