Listen Up!

Ok, now I don't get real political about things but there has been a lot going on lately that I frankly can't just sit on the sidelines for. Many people in Iowa know or have heard about HJR 6. It's the Iowa same-sex marriage amendment. Lawmakers want to change the way things are and give Iowans the right to vote on whether same-sex marriage should be legal. As I am usually for Iowans having the right to choose I feel this would be bad for our state. Iowans typically tend to be conservative and play it safe. If it works as it is then there is no need for change. Well three Iowa Supreme Court justices saw no reason to stop change and same-sex marriages were legalized. Now, because a few people with money disagree, lawmakers want to put it in the hands of Iowans. I applaud those justices for the decision they made and was appalled when they were voted out. I respect people's right to disagree with one another but I refuse to accept that what is right for one person isn't allowed to be right for another. I don't ask that everyone agree with me on same-sex marriage. If it weren't for the varying differences in the views of people this place would be boring. I do ask though that we be allowed to give everyone the sames rights we wish for ourselves. Government already controls too much of our lives as it is, plus it was voted many years ago to keep church and state separate. I haven't heard yet one legal reason why same-sex couples shouldn't be allowed to be married. I have heard several ridiculous arguments and read several even more ridiculous articles on how same-sex couples can't effectively raise kids or how they will destroy the fabric of society if allowed to marry. I have to say that I know many same-sex couples and some even have kids. Those kids are better are well taken care and loved very much. In fact they probably get more attention from the parents then most kids these days do. Same-sex couples are no different than any other couple. We all want good jobs, good homes, and a loving family to come home too. There is no reason they shouldn't have the right to that as everyone else does. Now agree with same-sex couples or not, you can't disagree that we should all have the right to live our lives as we see fit. I mean, come on, its discrimination in its purest form. Women fought to buy land and then vote, minorities fought for the right to vote. Look at where we've come from. We have women Senators and a black President. It is time to stand up and let everyone have the same rights as everyone else. Equality is not just something we give to those we want to have it. It's for everyone and I mean EVERYONE!

Now on the flip side of this is the religious part. People read the Bible and look at religious lore and say that everything is based on a Man/Woman relationship. That is true that many stories are that way, but that doesn't mean it has to be that way. First off being Gay is not a choice. I don't know anyone that would choose something that they no will make like harder because of how they would be treated by some people in our society, yet they can't fight who they are and are proud of it. I am proud of them as well. I can't even imagine how hard it would be to out yourself at a young age knowing how cruel people can be. I grew up obese and I know how cruel people are. We can't fight who we are though and to be happy we have to be honest with ourselves and with everyone else. My point is though, it's not a choice and if God creates us all then why would God not want all of his creations treated equally. God tells us to love and treat everyone equally. We are not taught to love squirrels and hate rabbits, just as we aren't taught to hate blacks and love whites. We are taught that all of God's creatures are special in their own way and should be appreciated as such.

Overall it's time we stand up and ignore our differences and fight for equality. I love being married and wish that experience for everyone. Gay, Straight, or otherwise. The Iowa House has already passed HJR 6 to let Iowans vote on same-sex marriage, so email your District Senator so that the vote won't pass in the Senate and we can move forward from this issue with a positive and enlightened experience.

You can find out who your District Senator is by clicking this link: http://www.legis.iowa.gov/Legislators/find.aspx

Here is the email I sent to my District Senator - Herman Quirmbach:

Senator Quirmbach,

I write to you today to ask you to vote NO on HJR 6. Iowans do not need to vote on samething that is perfectly ok the way it is. The 3 justices saw no Constitutional reason to not allow same-sex marriage and they were right. There is no Constitutional or legal reason it shouldn't be allowed. Most of the disagreements are religious based. Church and State were seperated years ago to make sure that religious agenda didn't effect lawmaking as it had in the past. Voting yes to HJR 6 would be setting us back many years and would hurt our status as a progressive political state. If you would like to read further into my opinion on this topic please read my blog post at: http://gibbysgripes.blogspot.com/2011/02/listen-up.html I am a happily married heterosexual man that loves being married. I only wish for that same right to be available to everyone so that they may feel the love and happiness I have with my wife. I appreciate your consideration on this measure and hope that we all as Iowans can move forward to happier, healthier, and more equal future.

Chris Gibbons
Ames, Iowa

Chris,

HJR 6 will not come up in the Senate this year or next. Thanks for your support on this important issue.

Regards,

Senator Herman C. Quirmbach