On April 3rd, 2009, Iowa's Supreme Court overturned a law put in place banning same-sex marriages striking a monumental blow for LGBT rights.
Tuesday, in a 62-37 vote, the Iowa House voted for a constitutional amendment to reinstate the ban. State Representatives Dan Muhlbauer, Brian Quirk and Kurt Swaim were the only Democrats on the winning side.
“Here’s the funny thing about rights — they’re not supposed to be voted on,” said state Rep. Bruce Hunter (D-Des Moines).
Here, here!
In order to become law, the measure must now pass in the Democratic-controlled Iowa Senate, where foes have vowed to block it. If it succeeds there, it must be passed by both the House and Senate again in 2013 before it can be placed on the ballot. So the court ruling allowing same-sex marriage remains in force.
Carolyn Jenison, executive director of the LGBT rights group One Iowa, said after the bill passed, “The Constitution is meant to protect the freedoms and liberties of all Iowans. It is inappropriate to use the political process to single out and deny a group of Iowans of their constitutional protections.”
We couldn't agree more.
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