Des Moines Register - Tancredo Calls for Federal Ban on Gay Marriage

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Des Moines Register - Tancredo Calls for Federal Ban on Gay Marriage

JASON PULLIAM, DES MOINES REGISTER STAFF WRITER

Republican presidential candidate Tom Tancredo today called for a constitutional amendment to ban same-sex marriages.

Tancredo held a press conference on the steps of the Iowa State Capitol building to denounce a decision made by Polk County District Judge Robert Hanson, who ruled in August that Iowa's gay-marriage ban is unconstitutional.

The Colorado congressman argued a federal ban is necessary to ensure "activist judges" will not make similar rulings that pave the way for legal recognition of relationships based on bigamy, polygamy and incest.

"That could happen," Tancredo said.

Tancredo's remarks were condemned as a political stunt by Mike Keller, a gay Des Moines man who was legally married to another man in Canada eight years ago.

Keller argued Tancredo's suggestion that recognition of gay marriage could pave the way for other legally sanctioned, non-traditional relationships is unfounded.

"It's absurd," Keller said. "What's his basis for that?"

Marriage is "all about protecting people," he added.

Tancredo said Hanson's decision is one of the most blatant examples of judicial activism in recent memory.

"I believe this is one of the most important questions facing our nation and (it) cannot be postponed," he said.

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