(Des Moines, IA)—On March 5, 35 Iowa State House Republicans introduced House Joint Resolution 11 that would exclude gay and lesbian couples from civil marriage. The resolution now heads to the House Judiciary Committee. Last week, 18 Senate Republicans introduced similar legislation that is currently pending in the Senate Rules Committee.
Four years ago, on April 3, 2009, the Iowa Supreme Court unanimously ruled that excluding gay and lesbian couples from marriage is unconstitutional. Since then, roughly 6,000 couples have married in Iowa.
Statement from One Iowa Executive Director Donna Red Wing:
“The introduction of House Joint Resolution 11 (HJR11) is a shameful display of playing politics with Iowa families. The truth is, Iowans have enjoyed the freedom to marry for nearly four years and nothing has happened except that loving and committed couples have married. The sky hasn’t fallen.
Today’s introduction of HJR11 by 35 House Republicans shows how out-of-touch these legislators are with the priorities of their constituents. A majority of Iowans have made it clear they want their leaders to focus on jobs, education and the economy, not spending time passing harmful legislation that hurts Iowa families.
A marriage resolution sends a hurtful message to some families that they are not valued by their so-called “representatives”, and we urge our legislators to remember that LGBT people are their constituents, friends, neighbors, coworkers and fellow Iowans.”