Welcome to DU! The truly grassroots left-of-center political community where regular people, not algorithms, drive the discussions and set the standards. Join the community: Create a free account Support DU (and get rid of ads!): Become a Star Member All Forums Issue Forums Culture Forums Alliance Forums Region Forums Support Forums Help & Search

Cairycat

(1,697 posts)
Sun Mar 2, 2014, 01:53 PM Mar 2014

Attempt to extend marriage inequality?

In an article about the fifth anniversary of Iowa legalizing same-sex marriages, there were these paragraphs:

At 8:20 a.m. on Feb. 4, state Rep. Dwayne Alons, R-Hull, sent an e-mail to his fellow Republicans.

“I have another version of the marriage amendment that adds the word ‘natural’ before ‘man’ and ‘woman.’ This is for your consideration to support traditional marriage, which is in our platform and keep it before the people in this election year,” his email began. It noted the legislation was on his desk if anyone wanted to sign.

“I think I finally had 13 or 14,” Alons said last week.


To me, this reads as an attempt to enshrine discrimination against transgender people by blocking them from marrying if their partners are not of the "proper" sex. The rest of the article was very focused on which side thinks they're winning re: same sex marriage, but I found this tidbit very chilling. In many respects I think transgender people face more, and more virulent discrimination. As acceptance of gay people grows, I think perhaps the right is seeing in transgender people a new bogeyman to get people to hate.

Just a couple data points: by my count, the current split in the Iowa House of Representatives is 39 Democratic and 41 Republican representatives. Hull, where the rep wanting to add the discriminatory language is from, is deep in the heart of Steve King's congressional district.

Latest Discussions»General Discussion»Attempt to extend marriag...