Groups on both sides of gay marriage plan events for legislature's opening
The group says bans on gay marriage have passed in 31 of 31 states where they’ve been put to a vote. “One Iowa”, a group that is fighting against the proposed Iowa constitutional amendment to ban gay marriage is also planning a January event. One Iowa spokesman, Justin Uebelhor, says they will hold a rally on the Sunday before the legislative session begins for their "Red Blue Purple" campaign.
"I think the main message of the event is that equality should not be a partisan issue and we’re having individuals and groups representing a broad section of Iowans who are opposed to a constitutional amendment…that would ban same-sex marriage in Iowa," Uebelhor says. Uebelhor says the legislature has other issues it needs to address.
He says from their prospective it is "improper to put equal rights to a public vote" and he says they think elected officials have a number of challenges they face. "And most voters I think would agree that our elected officials should be spending their time on things like the economy and record deficit that we have here in Iowa, rather than focusing on a sole divisive issue that would pit neighbor against neighbor," Uebelhor says.
