An Iowa state senator is calling for state park policies to exclude gay families, saying allowing gay couples to be counted as a family at state parks is going too far. Merlin Bartz The Iowa Department of Natural Resources is planning to recognize gay families in their policy that allows families to put up more than one tent on a camp site. This is in line with state legislation that outlaws discrimination. Senator Merlin Bartz, a Republican who is opposed to gay marriage, has directed Department officials to explain their proposal at a meeting of the Legislature's Administrative Rules Review Committee, of which he is a member. Bartz is a leading voice of opposition to gay marriage in the Senate. Last year he called for county officials to reject gay couples seeking a marriage license. Ultimately, no gay or lesbian couple was denied a license.
Credit: GayNZ.com Daily News staff
First published: Tuesday, 11th May 2010 - 12:36pm