Wednesday was a difficult day for The American Independent News Network, which is the larger entity that operates The Iowa Independent. Our chief executive and founder announced two of our sister sites would close and their content would be moved to The American Independent.
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Pointing to his running mate’s stated openness to the idea of legally recognizing same-sex relationships and his previous record on LGBT rights, the state’s largest gay-rights organization is pushing gubernatorial hopeful Terry Branstad to protect marriage for all couples.
One Iowa is asking supporters of marriage equity to write letters to Branstad highlighting the “positive impact same-sex marriage has had in Iowa.” Last week, lieutenant governor nominee Kim Reynolds said in an interview that she would be open to the idea of civil unions for gay couples — just not if its called marriage. And in May, One Iowa documented how Des Moines University (DMU) was “at the forefront of recognizing and respecting” the LGBT community while Branstad was in charge from August 2003 to last fall.
During his tenure, DMU instituted domestic partnership benefits, welcomed a nationally-known transgender physician for a discussion on caring for transgender patients and advertised a lobby day sponsored by One Iowa to advocate for marriage equality at the Capitol.
“We continue to get mixed messages from the Branstad/Reynolds campaign,” said One Iowa Executive Director Carolyn Jenison. “Both Mr. Branstad’s and Ms. Reynolds’ comments on civil unions indicate a willingness to recognize committed and loving same-sex couples. With the ‘Letters to Mr. Branstad’ campaign, we want to show the Branstad/Reynolds ticket the positive impact the marriage has on our state, and convince them of the need to protect the freedom to marry for all Iowans.”
One Iowa has begun making some of the letters public on their website. Each begs Branstad to return to his previous stance on LGBT issues he seemed to hold while serving at DMU and to abandon his current position of overturning the Iowa Supreme Court verdict that legalized same-sex marriage with a constitutional amendment.
“I heard of your desire to pass a constitutional amendment taking away the right of marriage from many of my fellow Iowans,” said a woman identified as Rachel from Ames. “When I first heard that Iowa had granted this right, I was extremely proud to be an Iowan. I have told many of my out-of-state friends about Iowa’s progressive attitude and how living here is great for families. As a native Iowan I have had to correct many non-Iowans on their views of our state, and I would be ashamed if such a wonderful example of Iowa’s equality were taken away. Marriage is about love, and please don’t take this right away from your fellow Iowans. You’re the only governor I remember having when I was growing up, and if this is a point on which you will not waver, then you have lost my vote.”
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