Supervisor Rod Sullivan proposed the following proclamation to the Johnson County Board of Supervisors here in Iowa City yesterday morning. It reads:
PROCLAMATION SUPPORTING MARRIAGE EQUALITY -- MARCH, 2013
WHEREAS, the United States Supreme Court has ruled that marriage is one of the basic civil rights of the American people, fundamental to our very existence and survival; and
WHEREAS, marriages that are deemed legally valid by the federal and state governments provide married couples with more than 1,138 federal rights, privileges, economic advantages and legal protections; and
WHEREAS, these rights include access to health care, inheritance of social security benefits and eligibility for significant taxation advantages. Protection afforded to each spouse in a legal marriage include protection of their parental relationship with their children, protection of the inheritance rights of their spouse and children, ensuring hospital visitation rights and the ability to make medical decisions for their spouse, and protection of property rights; and
WHEREAS, without being declared legally valid, the spouses of same-sex marriages cannot receive these rights, privileges, advantages and protections; and
WHEREAS, Iowa is one of nine states and the District of Columbia that have legalized marriage for same-sex couples; and
WHEREAS, Johnson County has one of the highest LGBT populations per capita among American counties, and
WHEREAS, Johnson County has a rich history in the lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) rights movement and is rightfully considered one of the most progressive counties in the country regarding its policies protecting equal rights for all citizens, including the 2006 adoption of a County Human Rights Ordinance, and
WHEREAS, Johnson County has made the repeal of the law entitled the Defense of Marriage Act ("DOMA") and its denial of federal recognition to married same-sex couples one of its Congressional priorities.
NOW THEREFORE, be it resolved that we, the Johnson County Board of Supervisors proclaim support marriage equality for same-sex couples and urge the Supreme Court of the United States to once again rule in favor of marriage as a basic civil right.
Signed this 28th day of March, 2013
Janelle Rettig, Chairperson
The Board of Supervisors voted in support of this proclamation 4-1 and authorized the Board's chairperson to sign off on it.
