Cold-hearted, Divisive Iowa State Senators Introduce Gay Marriage Ban
by Christina Butts
The new
legislative session has barely started and the remnant religious
far-right in the Iowa State Senate wants to begin divisive political
tactics instead of working for the future of the state. These tactics
are keeping Iowa from becoming an economic and socially
progressive state that will attract and retain business and young
adults. This type of game and tactic in a state that was proudly one of
the main 'free' states during the Underground Railroad harkens a step
back from Quaker-based liberty and freedoms for which our state's
Constitution has always stood. This seems to be strategically done the
week before Iowa Equality Day, February 3, for educating legislators on
LGBT civil/human rights issues, which will get positive media attention
and publicity. –Christina Butts
Thursday, January 27, 2005 — Mason City Globe Gazette
GAY MARRIAGE BAN INTRODUCED, BUT UNLIKELY TO ADVANCE
By DAN GEARINO, Globe Des Moines Bureau
DES
MOINES – A state constitutional amendment banning gay marriage was
introduced by nine Republicans Wednesday in the Iowa Senate.
The
measure faces little chance of passage in a chamber tied 25-25 between
parties. A similar resolution fell short last year, a time when
Republicans held the majority.
“I still
feel the majority of Iowans think we need to keep marriage protected,”
said one of the co-sponsors, Sen. Bob Brunkhorst, R-Waverly.
The proposal would add the following sentence to the state constitution:
“Only marriage between a man and a woman shall be valid or recognized in the state of Iowa.”
Leaders
from both parties said before the session that hot-button social issues
would probably get little airing because of the even split between the
parties.
The
sponsors of the proposed amendment are the following Republican
senators: Jeff Angelo of Creston, Jerry Behn of Boone, Nancy Boettger
of Harlan, Brunkhorst, David Johnson of Ocheyedan, Jim Hahn of
Muscatine, Larry McKibben of Marshalltown, Paul McKinley of Chariton
and Jim Seymour of Woodbine.
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