Steve King challenger speaks up in favor of marriage equality
Mike Denklau, candidate for U.S. Representative in Iowa's 5th District recently spoke with Blog for Iowa and discussed the issue of marriage equality in Iowa. Unlike the current occupant of the seat (rabidly anti-gay Congressman Steve King), 
challenger Denklau supports the Iowa Supreme Court's decision.
BFIA: Finally, an issue that is important to me. Earlier this year, the Iowa Supreme Court ruled in Varnum vs. Brian, upholding the lower court's ruling that struck down the state's Defense of Marriage Act. Iowa became the third state in the union, at that time, to allow same-sex marriage. My partner of more than fifteen years and I were married in June. But, while we have legal protections in our home state, we both work in Nebraska, where we have no legal protections. One, do you support the court's decision and two, what will you do in Congress to protect the rights of gays and lesbians in general and same-sex couples in particular?
Denklau: I think it's very important that we think about what all of this means. This is really a free choice and individual rights issue. And also about limited government. I feel very strongly that we should keep the government out of our personal lives, whenever possible. I mean, what could be a more personal decision than who you marry, when you marry, or even if you marry. And who is to tell you how you should make that decision? The fact of this matter is, that without that ability, there is a whole litany of rights that are being denied.
BFIA: Over eleven hundred. Denklau: Right. So what we're getting to is an issue of fairness and dignity. We need to make sure that we're taking care of all people. If two consenting adults don't have the right to enter into a legal contract, that opens the door to many other rights, basic rights such as pensions, health insurance and protecting your children. That is a serious issue. I think the Supreme Court got it right in this case, that this is an issue of free choice, limited government and providing fairness and dignity to our neighbors.
