Traditional marriage proponents in Iowa not giving up

DES MOINES – Dozens of Iowans braved inclement weather Monday to pray for protection of the unborn and preservation of Iowa's tradition of marriage between one man and one woman.

“We are here to talk to the king of kings and to talk to our paid legislators,” said Chuck Hurley, head of the Iowa Family Policy Council, one of 10 sponsoring groups for a day of prayer at the Capitol that drew about 100 people to the rotunda.

There was no sense of urgency in Monday's observance even though a joint resolution seeking legislative action to bring a constitutional amendment on one-man, one-woman marriage before Iowa voters appeared likely to fall victim to Friday's deadline for policy measures to clear a legislative committee or be ineligible for consideration this year.

“It's an election year and there are opportunities to bring bills out after funnel week,” said Hurley, himself a former state representative. “We've only just begun to fight.”

Hurley noted that 31 other U.S. states have taken action or voted to protect traditional marriage, but it appeared a small band of Democratic leaders in Iowa were intent on blocking a vote on behalf of special interests and outside money.

He predicted the constitutional resolution would pass by a 60-40 margin in both legislative chambers if a vote were allowed.

However, Senate Majority Leader Mike Gronstal, D-Council Bluffs, indicated when Senate Joint Resolution 2001 was filed that he did not intend to debate a measure that he believed would attempt to write discrimination into the state constitution by denying same-sex couples a status granted by the Iowa Supreme Court last April in striking down a one-man, one-woman marriage law as unconstitutional.

“Mike Gronstal is playing dictator. He's saying the people have no right to vote because I said so. He may wield his tyrannical power for a season. But it won't last. Tyrants don't last,” Hurley said.

“With God, all things are possible and the rules allow for bills to come up when you have the votes,” he added. “They (marriage amendment supporters) are not going away. They are motivated thinking that God designed marriage, the government didn't and when government tries to basically spit in God's face and redefine marriage – which they have no right to do – these people are not going away anytime soon.”