Culver defends same-sex marriage stance

DES MOINES – Gov. Chet Culver dismissed criticism Wednesday that he had changed his position on the marriage issue, saying he supports the Iowa Supreme Court view that churches are free to protect marriage as only between one man and one woman.

Culver, a first-term Democrat, said that is in line with his religious belief that marriage is between a man and a woman.

However, he said the court also ruled that the Iowa Constitution demands equal protection for all citizens who wish to be married under civil law regardless of gender.

For that reason, Culver said he would be reluctant to support a constitutional amendment that would effectively bar same-sex marriage because the unanimous court indicated such action would be unlawful and discriminatory.

“I think we have to be very respectful of the equal protection clause of the Iowa Constitution,” he told reporters during a Statehouse news conference.

“This court, in a unanimous decision, has stated that it is discriminatory to deny people the right that they're given under the current Constitution,” he said. “So I think I've stated very clearly my statement why I'm reluctant to support an amendment to the Constitution.”

Backers of an effort to amend the Constitution to define marriage as only between one man and one woman plan to rally en masse at the Capitol on Thursday clad in red attire. They say they're effort will coincide with a procedural attempt in the House to force lawmakers to vote on the marriage resolution.

House GOP Leader Kraig Paulsen of Hiawatha said GOP representatives will attempt to use a House procedural rule to bring the stalled House Joint Resolution 6 to the House floor for a vote.

“Now is the time for action” said an Iowa Family Policy Center alert urging Iowans to converge on the Capitol Thursday in support of the marriage amendment.

Iowa Family Policy Center ACTION President Chuck Hurley issued “a call to all Christians and liberty-minded Iowans” to attend the rally and lobby their legislators.