The openly gay son of Rep. Matt Salmon (R-Ariz.) spoke at length about his father’s controversial opposition of same-sex marriage as well as his personal experiences with reparative, or “ex-gay,” therapy in a new interview.

Matt R. Salmon, 24, tells AZ Central that his father “doesn’t support gay marriage, but that doesn’t make him anti-gay at all…my father and I have a great relationship, he’s one of my close friends.”

Salmon, who is a third-year medical student, reveals that he attended reparative therapy while an undergrad at Arizona State University. His decision to end reparative therapy created a rift in his relationship with his conservative father: “We still had a loving relationship, but it was difficult for him to accept and so it was a rough patch.”

He also says that he and his father “have the best relationship we’ve ever had,” though he confesses he wishes he had the same support that Sen. Rob Portman of Ohio, who now supports same-sex marriage, is providing for his gay son. Still, he notes, “It took me 20 years before I was OK with myself…I can’t expect anybody else to do it overnight or change their minds in any sooner amount of time.”

The elder Salmon raised eyebrows earlier this month when he told Phoenix station KTVK that he didn’t support same-sex marriage despite having a gay son.

“My son and I have had a lot of dialogue about it,” he said at the time. “I will say this: you know, my son is by far one of the most important people in my life. I love him more than I can say.”

He went on to note, “My view is while I don’t believe we should be vitriolic and try to enact harmful policies, by the same token, I’m just not there as far as believing in my heart that we should change 2,000 years of social policy in favor of a redefinition of the family…It just means that I haven’t evolved to that station. Rob Portman apparently has. I haven’t.”

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  • New York

    Since July 24, 2011

  • Maryland

    Voters in Maryland approved marriage equality in the November 2012 election.

    Initially, the gay marriage bill was signed into law by Gov. Martin O’Malley (D) on March 1, 2012 but opponents gathered enough signatures to force the issue back onto the ballot. With the passing of marriage equality, same-sex marriage ceremonies are set to begin on January 1, 2013.

  • Connecticut

    Since November 12, 2008

  • Iowa

    Since April 3, 2009

  • Maine

    Maine made history in the November 2012 election when it became the first state to pass marriage equality on the ballot.

    Human Rights Campaign President Chad Griffin said, “Voters in Maine came to the common-sense conclusion that all people deserve the ability to make loving, lifelong commitments through marriage.”

    Just three years ago, a popular vote overturned legislation that would have legalized same-sex marriage in the state.

  • Massachusetts

    Since May 17, 2004

  • New Hampshire

    Since January 1, 2010

  • Vermont

    Since September 1, 2009

  • Washington D.C.

    Since March 9, 2010

  • California

    The state initially began conducting gay marriages on June 16, 2008. On November 5, 2008, however, California voters passed Proposition 8, which amended the state’s constitution to declare marriage as only between a man and a woman.

  • Washington

    On February 13, 2012, Gov. Christine Gregoire (D) signed a law allowing same-sex marriage ceremonies to begin on June 7, 2012. The process was delayed by gay marriage opponents who gathered enough signatures to put the issue up to a state vote in November 2012.

    Gay marriage passed on November 7, 2012. The official determination for Washington did not come until one day after the election because of the state’s mail-in voting system.