Iowa Governor Terry Branstad has said
that Iowa will “live with” a Supreme Court ruling striking down
the Defense of Marriage Act (DOMA) but he would like to see a public
referendum on gay marriage.
The decision means that the federal
government must recognize the legal marriages of gay couples. A
second ruling paved the way for same-sex marriages to resume in
California.
Branstad, a Republican, played it close
to the vest when asked whether the DOMA decision will help or hurt
Iowans.
“I guess it depends upon your
perspective and your point of view on those things,” he
told reporters on Monday. “I guess people can make their own
judgment on that. We're going to live with the law and make whatever
adjustments are necessary.”
A 2009 Iowa Supreme Court ruling
extended marriage rights to gay couples, making Iowa the first
Midwest state to do so.
Branstad has supported previous
attempts to overturn the decision with a constitutional amendment
defining marriage as a heterosexual union.
When asked Monday whether he would
still like to see a public referendum, Branstad replied that he
would.
“It basically says the federal law is
struck down but it's up to the individual states,” he said. “And
many states have indeed amended their constitution to provide for
one-man/one-woman marriage. I've always felt the people of Iowa
should have the opportunity to vote on that issue.”