Religious

Continued from page 1

coalition like this to form in Ohio since 2003, but got sidetracked when the constitutional amendment to ban marriage equality was on the ballot a year later.

"In 2004, other states had religious groups involved in opposing the marriage amendments," said Peters. “We didn't have it on that scale."

Peters also said a LGBT-affirming faith coalition called No Longer Silent helped defeat an Arizona marriage ban amendment in 2006. Similar groups have been involved

lowa

Continued from page 1

Ohio is not among these states, although 11 cities have local measures, similar to the nine Iowa cities that already had them. No federal law protects LGBT people from discrimination.

"We are extremely proud that the state legislature has made it clear that discrimination against LGBT Iowans will no longer be tolerated," said ACLU of Iowa executive director Ben Stone. "All people deserve the same ability to work and support themselves and their families and to live free of discrimination."

"This law guarantees that Iowans will be judged on their abilities rather than their

in passing LGBT rights legislation in Oregon and Colorado this year.

"The public is paying attention to faith communities," said Peters, "and there were big political benefits."

Peters said other Ohio groups organizing around religious influence on progressive politics are not serving the LGBT community because they say gay rights are "too divisive."

"We want to put the voice of faith around gay issues," said Peters. "That means getting people of faith involved in LGBT equality, and developing materials for LGBT people of faith to use to talk to faith leaders." Interested people can contact Peters at j_eric_peters@yahoo.com or Rev. Middleburg at the King Avenue church.

sexual orientation or gender identity," Stone concluded.

Sandy Vopalka, the board president of Equality Iowa, reflected on the long struggle to pass the rights law.

"Many people over the last 18 years have worked to pass this bill, some of them no longer with us, and their presence was felt during the votes yesterday,” Vopalka said. "For the first time in my life, I finally feel welcome in the state of Iowa."

House Speaker Rep. Pat Murphy was very choked up, having been in the House of Representatives when a similar measure failed by a single vote in 1992.

"I was probably a little tired and a little emotional," Murphy said.

He told the Mason City Globe Gazette, “I didn't think I'd be here 15 years later to see it pass."

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