Iowa Senate Majority Leader's Powerful Speech on why he will halt efforts to ban same-sex marriage

[t0dd]

Because of the support of Senate Majority Leader Mike Gronstal, efforts to amend the Iowa Constitution failed to materialize in the Senate. Below is a link to the video of Senator Gronstal's response to Senate Minority Leader Paul McKinley of Chariton on April 6, 2009, the first day the Senate met after the unanimous decision by the Iowa Supreme Court to allow same sex couples to marry. I thought his speech was really powerful. Check it out! The transcript is attached below.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y2s2R5qKhbo

One of my daughters was in the workplace one day, and her particular workplace at that moment in time, there were a whole bunch of conservative, older men. And those guys were talking about gay marriage. They were talking about discussions going on across the country.

Any my daughter Kate, after listening for about 20 minutes, said to them: You guys dont understand. Youve already lost. My generation doesnt care.

I think I learned something from my daughter that day, when she said that. And Ive talked with other people about it and thats what I see, Senator McKinley. I see a bunch of people that merely want to profess their love for each other, and want state law to recognize that.

Is that so wrong? I dont think thats so wrong. As a matter of fact, last Friday night, I hugged my wife. You know Ive been married for 37 years. I hugged my wife. I felt like our love was just a little more meaningful last Friday night because thousands of other Iowa citizens could hug each other and have the state recognize their love for each other.

No, Senator McKinley, I will not co-sponsor a leadership bill with you.

[BlooInBloo]

1. This has been one of my favorite vids for awhile - I routinely repeat the money line.

"You've already lost."

[xchrom]

2. 'not caring' is a very short bridge.

and with the The People the wind blows one way one day -- and the other the next.

i want legislators, judges etc to do the right thing and be informed by the rational and the scientific -- and there is no Rational Reason to not support marriage equality.

[chollybocker]

3. That's a good statement.

He hugged his wife "more meaningful(ly)" as a result of converting to fully understanding the issue. It didn't destroy or belittle his marriage; rather, it reinforced it. The point is that most Americans want someone to hug "meaningfully," and that is an undeniable force of nature, regardless of orientation.