Iowa Governor Chet Culver is expected
to proclaim Wednesday, January 27 “Iowa Gay-Straight Alliance (GSA)
Day.”
Lieutenant Governor Patty Judge will
read Culver's official proclamation Tuesday night during Iowa
Pride Network's GSA Kick-Off Party in downtown Des Moines.
Student-led GSA groups in high schools
and colleges work to end violence and harassment of students
including those that are lesbian, gay, bisexual or transgender.
The proclamation is a small but
important victory for gay activists as Democrats face mounting
political pressures from social conservatives wanting to put the Iowa
Supreme Court's recent ruling in favor of gay marriage up for a vote.
Republicans have rallied around the issue, promising, if elected in
2010, to allow the public to decide the issue. Democrats, including
Culver, continue to support the court's unanimous decision.
This is the fourth year Iowa GSA Day
has been observed.