Freedom to Marry Urges Iowa Legislature to Protect Iowa Families, Reject Anti-Gay Amendment
January 19, 2011
Below is a statement from Evan Wolfson, Founder and Executive Director of Freedom to Marry, urging the Iowa Legislature to reject a bill introduced today that would harm Iowa families by amending the state constitution to strip away the freedom to marry from same-sex couples and bar other protections for their families.
"For almost two years now, since April 2009, loving and committed
gay couples have had the freedom to marry in Iowa, sharing in the
rules, responsibilities, and respect that marriage brings to strengthen
families. No one has been hurt, and numerous Iowa families have been
helped in both tangible and intangible ways. The children of gay and
lesbian couples have been able to proudly say that their parents are
married, loving couples have been able to make a public promise to one
another and have their friends, families and communities hold them
accountable, and families have had the responsibilities and protections
they need in a tough economic climate.
"Government should be on the side of all families, not putting
barriers in their path as they seek to care for their loved ones. And
the constitution should be respected as a shield of fairness for all,
not used as a weapon to discriminate and harm. Iowa’s legislators
should resoundingly reject this assault on the constitution and
families, and avoid dragging the state backward at a time when Iowa’s
families want to see them moving the economy forward.”