Gay Marriage in Iowa the Political Hot Potato in 2010
Iowans Want to Vote on Same-Sex Marriage Issue
The Defense of Marriage Act was signed by Governor Branstad in 1998.
Bill Clinton, who signed the Defense of Marriage Act, said, "I remain opposed to same-sex marriage. I believe marriage is an institution for the union of a man and a woman." Only to flip-flop on July 8, 2009, in Washington D.C. then Clinton reportedly said: "I personally support people doing what they want to do. I think it's wrong for someone to stop someone else from doing that [gay marriage]."
Iowans, usually a pretty independent lot, want to vote on gay marriage. If same-sex marriage is going to be allowed, most Iowans think that it should be because a majority of Iowans want it. Not because an agenda was pushed through.
It is doubtful that the re-election of Chet Culver as governor would see this come to a vote of Iowa citizens. However, GOP Bob Vander Plaats is "for a stay on same-sex marriages until the General Assembly rewrites state law or Iowans are allowed to vote on the definition of marriage as one man and one woman."
Terry Branstad's website says he supports reinstating the definition of marriage as the union of one man and one woman by a constitutional amendment, passed by a vote of the people of Iowa as 31 other states have done.
What do Iowa citizens think of gay marriage? Is same-sex marriage something that Iowans want? A 2008 University of Wisconsin poll had the following results:
28% of Iowans support same-sex marriage
30% of Iowans oppose same-sex marriage but support civil unions
32% of Iowans oppose both civil unions and same-sex marriage
10% are undecided
If these numbers are close to still holding true, then Iowans do not want gay marriages to take place their state. No same-sex marriage would be voted in by Iowa citizens.
The race for Iowa Governor in 2010 is not going to be pretty. The issue of gay marriages being performed in Iowa is not over. Same-sex marriage advocates and anti-same-sex advocates will all be pushing their agendas hard in Iowa.
Sources:
Published by Sherry Tomfeld
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18 Comments
Post a CommentFailed to mention the town, which was Davenport, Iowa on June 6th. My bad. I've been covering Conlin/Grassley/Culver/Branstad quite a bit on here.
As an interesting aside, in the Senatorial race which will (probably) pit incumbent Charles Grassley (he of "Pull the plug on Grandma and other outrageous comments) vs. Democrat Roxanne Conlin, candidate Conlin visited the downtown Davenport Gay Pride Rainbow Alliance gathering when in town on Sunday, June 6th. (I'll be attending her after-the-primary June 8th party in Des Moines tomorrow night; stay tuned.)
I believe that two people, even if they are the same sex, ought to be able to show their loyalty and love for each other, in the same way that everyone else can. It's not their fauly that they are gay, some people are just born that way, but it doesn't stop them from falling in love. It's society and the prudish American public that prevents them from showing their love and commitment.
I think it is really sad that there are so many of my fellow Americans who feel that civil unions between same sex couples should not be allowed. I don't think that churches should be forced to perform same sex marriages (if it goes against their beliefs) but feel that same sex civil unions should be allowed. Really, who are we to judge how others live their lives.
Fantastic work!
Informative article. Thanks I am on the side of - I don't see why they should not be allowed to marry - I know I can get a round of angry comments to this statement but I don't believe for a moment that a couple rather they man and woman, man and man, woman and woman cannot be married and enjoy their lives together has absolutely nothing to do with the bible or gods will or anything else - just common sense if someone loves someone they should be allowed to spend their entire lives together and if they wish even raise a family.
Gay Marriage was legalized in Iowa based on a law suit filed and subsequently Iowa's highest courts interpretation of the Iowa constitution.
Hm? There must be something within the Iowa constitution which requires all people to be treated as equal. When Iowa first became a state there was a vote to ratify this constitution. So for those of you who want a vote on the nature of the decision to approve gay marriage. Too late the vote already happened, as this recent decsion was based on constiutionality.
However, a vote to ammend the constitution is very different. What an ammendment does is it clarifies the constitution, so therefore you can vote to say actually "going forward the Iowa constitution wants the state to only allow one man and one woman to enter into the legal contract of marriage" In essence you would be voting to take away equality from a specific group that currently has it.
Iowa could also vote on an ammendment to only have certain delegated water fountains or
Gay Marriage was legalized in Iowa based on a law suit filed and subsequently Iowa's highest courts interpretation of the Iowa constitution.
Hm? There must be something within the Iowa constitution which requires all people to be treated as equal. When Iowa first became a state there was a vote to ratify this constitution. So for those of you who want a vote on the nature of the decision to approve gay marriage. Too late the vote already happened, as this recent decsion was based on constiutionality.
However, a vote to ammend the constitution is very different. What an ammendment does is it clarifies the constitution, so therefore you can vote to say actually "going forward the Iowa constitution wants the state to only allow one man and one woman to enter into the legal contract of marriage" In essence you would be voting to take away equality from a specific group that currently has it.
Iowa could also vote on an ammendment to only have certain delegated water fountains or
excellent! Thanks for sharing!
God's will be done! No matter what side of the issue you are on,you can at least pray that.