Constitutional Law

Iowa Gov. Unlikely To Support Constitutional Amendment Banning Gay Marriage

Iowa's governor has indicated that he is not likely to support amending the state constitution to ban gay marriage. Gov. Chet Culver (right) said that while he personally opposes same-sex marriage, he was 'reluctant to support amending the Iowa Constitution to add a provision that our Supreme Court has said is unlawful and discriminatory.' Culver's comments follow the recent Iowa Supreme Court decision that invalidated a law limiting marriage to a man and a woman. Writing for the unanimous court, Justice Mark S. Cady concluded that, 'We are firmly convinced the exclusion of gay and lesbian people from the institution of civil marriage does not substantially further any important governmental objective.'

Under Iowa law amending the state constitution could take at least two years. The New York Times reported last week that there 'was no indication that the Legislature, controlled by Democrats, would take up the matter.'

In his statement, Culver added that, 'As Governor, I must respect the authority of the Iowa Supreme Court, and have a duty to uphold the Constitution of the State of Iowa. I also fully respect the right of all Iowans to live under the full protection of Iowa's Constitution.'

Yesterday, Vermont became the fourth state to expand marriage rights, when the legislature overrode Gov. Jim Douglas's veto of a bill allowing lesbians and gay men to marry.  

Full post as published by ACS Blog on April 08, 2009 (boomark / email).