DES MOINES – Iowa’s top LGBTQ organization this week condemned remarks allegedly made by Gov. Kim Reynolds’ Senior Legal Counsel, in which he implied the possible overturn of legal same-sex marriage in state.
On April 3, 2009, the Iowa Supreme Court unanimously established marriage equality (Varnum v. Brien), becoming the third state to legalize same-sex marriage. In 2015, the U.S. Supreme Court ruled that it is legal for same sex couples to marry anywhere in the United States.
However, according to One Iowa – one of Iowa’s top LGBTQ organizations – “on Wednesday, September 12, Gov. Kim Reynolds’ Senior Legal Counsel and Special Advisor Sam Langholz commented on the Iowa Supreme Court in relation to the governor’s race while speaking in front of a conservative crowd in Urbandale. According to Iowa Public Radio coverage, he ‘cited recent court decisions that conservatives opposed, and suggested that future appointees could mean different results,’ implying that Gov. Reynolds would nominate appointees that would make different decisions. Langholz specifically mentioned the Varnum v. Brien decision legalizing same-sex marriage, according to Iowa Public Radio.”
One Iowa Action Executive Director Daniel Hoffman-Zinnel condemned Langholz’s comments.
“Langholz’s implication that Varnum should have been decided differently flies in the face of a unanimous Supreme Court decision and our state’s constitution. His comments indicate that Langholz believes LGBTQ Iowans should not receive the same rights and benefits as other Iowans, a practice explicitly condemned by our state’s constitution and civil rights law.”
“LGBTQ Iowans have long relied on the courts to protect our rights, health, and safety. This was true during Varnum v. Brien, and it’s also true now with the current Iowa Supreme Court case addressing the constitutionality of Iowa’s Medicaid ban on medically necessary health care for transgender people. It is worrying to consider what other rights and benefits Langholz does not think LGBTQ Iowans should have, especially since he holds such a high position in our state’s executive branch. We encourage Gov. Reynolds’ to publicly disavow Langholz’s comments.”
One Iowa Action is a 501(c)(4) organization working to preserve and advance the rights of lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and queer/questioning (LGBTQ) Iowans through grassroots efforts, voter education and advocacy.
11 thoughts on “Iowa’s top LGBTQ organization condemns remarks of Gov. Kim Reynolds’ Senior Legal Counsel, implying possible overturn of legal same-sex marriage in state”
put them in prison and them till they see the light
Heard obummer and Michael are going to buy southbridge – lgbt headquarters ?
Are you surprised that the crats are for diversity ?? HO HO Ho !
Just legalize marijuana. Rolling-on-the-floor-laughing-my-ass-off. Me like Jane. Lord of the jungle rules. And what ya gunna do. Roflmao
I believe you should be able to marry who you like. I don’t care about that at all. Doesn’t affect me one bit. Attempting to force me to use some stupid made up pronoun is complete horseshit.
What “medically necessary health care” are we talking about? If that includes tax payer funded surgery to install boobs or remove your wang, I say hell no. That is NOT necessary. You want to mangle your body, get a job and save your pennies. I don’t care what you do to yourself, but I shouldn’t have to pay for it.
Why does anybody care who can legally marry? How does it hurt you? Were you not invited to the wedding? Is that why you get so upset?
And it’s all BS!
It’s more important to have a rainbow flag and trying to make people believe as you do.
It’s smazingly stupid that anyone who is gay would be a liberal democrat. The same democrats that let illegal allien radical Muslims over stay visas illegally enter the country and the same who would throw them off a building and not think twice or shoot up a gay night club which already has happened.
The dumbass is strong in you.
^^^I often wondered that about the pretzel man