Former Sen. Rick Santorum offered a steadfast defense of his position when questioned about Ohio Sen. Rob Portman’s decision to support gay marriage.

In a room filled with social conservatives at the Conservative Political Action Conference, the failed 2012 presidential candidate said, “Just because someone changes their mind doesn’t change things.” He added that, in law, “bad facts make bad laws” and that some Republicans are confronting “very difficult facts” in their lives.

Santorum said the importance of traditional marriage is in using the institution to promote the “best platform to raise our children.”

If marriage were just about “two adults who love each other,” “then let anybody get married,” or “three or four people,” for that matter, Santorum said to loud applause.

Additionally, gay marriage opponent Maggie Gallagher responded to Portman’s stance in a release, “While I understand Sen. Portman’s love for his son, we can love each other without abandoning core principles like marriage and life. If Republican elites continue the process of attempting to get rid of social issues, we are going to go back to being the party of Gerald Ford, a permanent minority that can occasionally elect a President.”

Portman announced Friday that he had decided to support laws that would allow gays to marry after finding out two years ago that his son is gay.