Public vote on same-sex marriage wastes money

For one year now, same-sex marriage has been legal in our state because of an Iowa Supreme Court ruling. Iowa Public Radio aired a special program on this topic April 2. Danny Carroll, Iowa Family & Policy Center, emphasized the suffering this ruling will cause. Others noted that our under-30 youth overwhelmingly accept same-sex marriage.

Our Republican legislators and many conservatives insist the issue needs a public vote.

Iowa has a proud tradition of commitment to human rights. Christians are far from being in agreement on this issue. Iowans will not vote for discrimination.

Many will indeed seize the opportunity to make public their discomfort with homosexuality. But we as a state are not going to vote to take away a right that our constitution protects. There is too much compassion, commitment to fairness and generosity of spirit in our populace to have a majority vote in favor of prejudice. We can have a vote and media blitz at great expense. In the end, Iowans will affirm our constitutional commitment to human rights and equality.

Why engage in the circus and economic waste of a vote? We have elections. Our elected officials can represent us. That is democracy.

Roger Johanson

Lisbon