May 23, 2013

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Supreme Court rules both names of lesbian couple should be on birth certificate

May 3, 2013 By

The Iowa Supreme Court has upheld a district court ruling that both names of a lesbian couple should be included on a birth certificate when one of the women has a child. Melissa and Heather Gartner were married in Des Moines on June 13 of 2009, two months after the Iowa Supreme Court ruled Iowa’s Defense of Marriage Act banning gay marriages was unconstitutional.

Heather gave birth to a child in September that had been conceived using an anonymous sperm donor. The Iowa Department of Public Health issued a birth certificate containing only Heather’s name on it as the parent of the child.

The Health Department said it would not put Melissa’s name on the birth certificate because the system for registration of births in Iowa recognizes the biological and gender roles of “mother” and “father,” based on the biological fact that a child has one biological mother and one biological father. Heather and Melissa sued, saying their rights had been violated.

The Iowa Supreme Court ruled in favor of the couple based the court’s decision that said failing to recognize the marriage of same-sex couples violated the equal protection clause of the Iowa Constitution. The court said failing to recognize married lesbian couples both as parents on the birth certificate also violates the equal protection clause.

The court ordered the Health Department to issue a new birth certificate that includes Melissa Gartner’s name along with Heather’s as the parents of the child.

See the complete ruling here: Gartner Ruling PDF

Filed Under: Crime & Courts, News Tagged With:

Pastor criticizes media attention on “non-scriptural living” of NBA player Jason Collins (AUDIO)

May 2, 2013 By

A midday ceremony at the statehouse to mark the National Day of Prayer featured a Baptist minister who used part of his prayer time to criticize the attention being paid to an NBA player who revealed he is gay.

The Reverend Keith Ratliff, Sr., of Des Moines resigned from the NAACP last year after the civil rights group endorsed same-sex marriage.

“What a time we live in, Lord, when some people are calling wrong right and right wrong,” Ratliff prayed today, “when athletes lifestyles are continually being used to promote non-scriptural living, to encourage our youth that if more people support it, it must be o.k.”

Three days ago, with a story in the latest issue of Sports Illustrated, Jason Collins became the first athlete in a major professional sport to publicly acknowledge he is gay. Reverend Ratliff, during his prayer today, noted the media firestorm that followed Collins’ announcement.

“Many on TV say it is o.k. Many on the radio say it’s o.k. Many in the newspapers say it’s o.k. and even some ministers say it’s o.k., but woe unto us if we preach not the gospel,” Ratliff said in his prayer. “God’s word never changes.”

Ratliff has been a featured speaker at statehouse rallies organized by groups seeking a constitutional amendment that would ban same-sex marriage in Iowa. He has been a minister at the Maple Street Missionary Baptist Church for over 30 years and is currently serving as administrator of the Joshua Christian Academy in Des Moines.

A dozen other people led the crowd in prayer during the National Day of Prayer event in Des Moines, including Michael Householder, senior pastor of the Lutheran Church of Hope in West Des Moines, one of Iowa’s largest churches.

“Gracious Lord God, thank you for this day that you have made for us to rejoice and be glad in it,” he prayed. “For even in the midst of the wind and the snow and the chill that is in the air, still there is joy for us today.”

There were prayers offered for the military, for businesses and their customers, for school administrators and school boards and for the media. Congress and President Harry S. Truman established The National Day of Prayer in 1952, to be held on the first Thursday in May. This year’s theme was “pray for America.”

AUDIO of last half of National Day of Prayer event in Des Moines 31:51

Filed Under: Featured Story, News, Politics & Government Tagged With:

The Family Leader lobbies to end taxpayer-funded abortions (AUDIO)

April 23, 2013 By
Bob Vander Plaats speaks at the Family Leader rally.

Bob Vander Plaats speaks at the Family Leader rally.

The Family Leader held a midday rally at the statehouse today, urging supporters to lobby lawmakers to pass new abortion restrictions.

Danny Carroll, a former Republican legislator who lobbies full-time at the statehouse for The Family Leader, coached the crowd.

“Contact your legislator or a legislator and let them know that while they may not be able to overturn Roe v. Wade and they may not be able to protect human life from the moment of conception today or this year, they can at least keep your tax money from going to organizations who do provide abortions,” Carroll said.

The group is pressing for a change in state policy that would forbid state tax dollars from being used to perform abortions on Medicaid patients who are rape or incest victims, or who are carrying a fetus with severe abnormalities.

The proposal also forbids state tax dollars from going to Planned Parenthood to cover birth control for low-income women.

“The Bible does not say that the wicked shall rule or that the righteous shall rule,” said Chuck Hurley, another former GOP legislator who is The Family Leader’s vice president. “The Bible says the diligent shall rule and the sad fact is that for the last few decades the pro-abortionists and the homosexuals and the socialists have been more diligent than we have been on public engagement.”

Bob Vander Plaats — a three-time Republican candidate for governor who is The Family Leader’s president and CEO — was the rally’s opening speaker.

“We believe government exists to promote what is good and what is righteous — so if it’s good and righteous, we’re for it,” Vander Plaats told the crowd. “If it is bad and it is against God’s heart, then we’re against it.”

Vander Plaats said his group “honors every gift of life.”

“From conception to natural death — with no exceptions,” Vander Plaats said, to applause from the crowd.

Dan Becker, national field director for Personhood USA, was the keynote speaker for today’s rally.

“Remove the judges, intimidate the court? That’s not an option,” Becker said. “I’ll tell you what is: a state constitutional amendment that finds a right to life.”

The Family Leader was heavily involved in campaigns to defeat Iowa Supreme Court justices who joined the court’s 2009 opinion that legalized same-sex marriage. The issue was raised by speakers at the rally, but a constitutional amendment banning same-sex marriage was not The Family Leader’s lobbying objective today.

AUDIO of today’s rally 50:00

Filed Under: Health & Medicine, News, Politics & Government Tagged With: , , , ,

Senator who’s critic of gay lifestyle says to gay senator: “Let’s do lunch” (AUDIO)

April 22, 2013 By
Dennis Guth

Dennis Guth

A state senator who sparked controversy last week with his remarks about homosexuality is seeking a sort of cease-fire.

Senator Dennis Guth, a Republican from Klemme, compared the health risks of homosexuality to the health risks of second-hand smoke during a speech in the Iowa Senate last Wednesday.  Late this afternoon during brief remarks on the senate floor, Guth returned to the subject.

“Last week I arose to encourage a dialogue…with our youth,” Guth said.

“What I got was name-calling and character assassination over information anybody can access from the Center of Disease Control. I had hoped that we could have an honest discussion on the senate floor without each side trying to score some political points.”

Guth said last week there are “numerous” health and mental problems associated with homosexuality and that “there are health risks that my family incurs because of the increase of sexually transmitted infections that this lifestyle invites.” Senator Matt McCoy, a Democrat from Des Moines who is gay, called the remarks “ignorant” and he demanded an apology. Guth did not offer one.

“Rather than escalate, I suggest an alternative,” Guth said today. “Senator McCoy, let’s do lunch together sometime and get to know each other. Maybe we can talk about something other than politics.”

AUDIO of Guth’s remarks today (run about a min.)

McCoy told Radio Iowa it would be “boorish” to refuse Guth’s invitation, but McCoy added that he would like to introduce Guth “to some of the gays and lesbians who live and work in Des Moines.”

Filed Under: Featured Story, News, Politics & Government Tagged With: , , ,

Senator asserts homosexuality poses health risks to heterosexuals (AUDIO)

April 17, 2013 By
Dennis Guth

Dennis Guth

A Republican senator today asserted homosexuality hurts him and his family in “multiple ways”– prompting an openly gay senator to call the statements “ignorant.”

Senator Dennis Guth of Klemme gave a speech in the Iowa Senate to air his concerns about homosexuality.

“The media, for the most part, has bamboozled us into thinking that having a relationship outside of the boundaries of monogamous, heterosexual marriage is positive, happy and fulfilling,” Guth said. “Movies, television shows, articles and magazines abound with this theme, giving partial information to vulnerable audience: our children.”

Guth said there are “numerous” health and mental problems associated with homosexuality that “ultimately” shorten the lives of gays and lesbians.

“There are health risks that my family incurs because of the increase of sexually transmitted infections that this lifestyle invites. For example, there are more and more medical tests required before giving blood or giving birth,” Guth said.

Guth said “many civilizations have fallen” because the traditional family was not protected and he argued the homosexual lifestyle “is a lie.”

“If I saw someone going the wrong way on a one-way street, I would make every effort to stop and redirect them,” Guth said. “Simply put, it saves lives to have honest communication not only about the sexually transmitted diseases that shorten lifespans, but also about the deep loneliness that accompanies a life based on youth, beauty and sex.”

Matt McCoy

Matt McCoy

Senator Matt McCoy, a Democrat from Des Moines, responded a few minutes later: ”I was frankly just a little bit taken aback by some of the things that I heard today, as I know some of my colleagues were as well.”

McCoy disputed Guth’s argument that homosexuality, like second-hand smoke, is a health danger to heterosexuals.

“Much of what you heard today on the floor of the senate is warmed over rhetoric that has been invented by the Christian right, extreme groups,” McCoy said. “…What I heard today was ignorant and I know where it came from and I think that I am not gay by choice. I am not gay by choice, but I choose not to be ignorant.”

The two men made their comments at the opening of the senate’s work day, when senators are given an opportunity to speak on whatever topic they choose during “points of personal privilege.”

AUDIO of Guth’s remarks (mp3 runs nearly 8 min.)

AUDIO of McCoys remarks (mp3 runs nearly 4 min.)

Filed Under: Featured Story, News, Politics & Government Tagged With: , , ,

Speaker tells LGBTQ conference the “right wing” is losing influence

April 3, 2013 By
Matt Sinovic

Matt Sinovic

One of the sessions that got a lot of attention at the Iowa Governors LGBTQ Conference Wednesday focused on what was called the “extreme right wing.” Matt Sinovic, the executive director of a group called Progress Iowa, led the session.

Sinovic says the right wing includes the Family Leader group, conservative radio talk show hosts and Fox News. He says polls showing an increasing approval of gay marriage are proof that the right wing is losing influence.

“We need to remember that the right wing is just wrong. They’re just wrong. It’s been four years since all Iowans have had the freedom to marry — and what has happened? Gay people got married, that’s it. More people have rights, none have less,” according to Sinovic.

Sinovic also cited a poll showing the influence of Family Leader CEO Bob Vander Plaats has declined. He tried to show several videos of statements made by Vander Plaats against gay marriage, but technical problems prevented him from playing of most of the videos.

Sinovic told the session members that the best way to counter the “propoganda” of Vander Plaats and others is to use their own words against them. “There’s no question about what these folks are saying. It’s not like it’s taken out of context, it’s not some sort of twisted around agenda, it’s just literally video and audio of what they believe, and that is in itself the best attack, is just showing these quotes…for what they really are,” Sinovic says.

He said the difference between progressives and conservatives is that “conservatives are usually on the wrong side of history and progressives are usually on the correct side of history.” Sinovic made reference to a news conference last week where members of the Family Leader and 16 legislators spoke out specifically against this session of the conference and its attack on them.

He says gay advocates should fight back when they see the media covering such events. “You can write letters to the editor when your local paper gives credibility to this type of bullying language…I would have loved it is the press conference last week, nobody covered it. Because why are we listening to these people. The real reason that I think it got so much coverage is that there were 16 legislators there,” Sinovic says.

He says advocates should write to “right wing” legislators and complain. Sinovic also says the best way for gay advocates to sway opinion it to talk with their relatives and friends.

“There’s tons of research to back this up. If I talk to my brother and sister about this — my friends, my family about this — that’s going to be the most credible because they know me, they know you,” Sinovic says. “So, talk to your family, talk to your friends, if you hear them repeating some of the things you’ve heard here today or some of the things you might hear on the radio or news later on, or from Bob Vander Plaats later on, push back, don’t let them repeat it, challenge them on it.”

Sinovic says Progress Iowa is a “progressive” group because it is willing to change its views as issues evolve, but he says the extreme right wing sticks to its views no matter what happens.

You can listen to the presentation from Sinovic below.

Audio: Sinovic part 1 21:00

Audio: Sinovic part 2 26:00

Filed Under: Human Interest, News, Religion Tagged With:

Students talk about controversy surrounding LGBTQ conference

April 3, 2013 By

Many of the students attending the Governors LGBTQ Conference today say they’ve heard some of the controversy surrounding the event, but say it doesn’t impact their decision to attend. Victor Diaz, is a senior and part of a group of students from Sioux City West High School who attended the conference.

“Everyone has their right to their own opinion, and if they don’t support it, they don’t support it, you know. We are not shoving it in their face…they don’t necessarily shove it in our face,” Diaz says. Diaz says the amount of people at the conference shows ideas about gay and lesbian issues are changing.

LGBTQ issues are very import to support and there’s students from all over Iowa that come. So it’s kind of incredible to see that society did change, and it’s becoming more accepting,” Diaz says. Jackie Mendez was also in the group, and says those who oppose their views shouldn’t condemn them.

“It’s something we really believe in. And it doesn’t really affect them, we don’t harm them, we don’t do anything to them, we are all equal. So why discriminate against us anyway?,” Mendez says.

A conservative group and several legislators spoke out against using taxpayer money as part of the funding for the conference, as they say some of the conference sessions bullied those who don’t support gay issues.

Filed Under: Human Interest, News Tagged With:
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