In a state where gay marriage is legal, gay and lesbian families would not be allowed to use state parks for family camping trips. That is, if State Sen. Merlin Bartz had his way.
According to the Des Moines Register, the Iowa Natural Resource Commission wants to limit the total number of people at each campsite to six. The sticking point, the new rule would include domestic partners, spouses and legal guardians in the definition of "immediate" family members in the updated policy.
Bartz, a Republican and outspoken opponent of gay marriage, is fighting the rule change based on the definition of "immediate" family members. Bartz is claiming that because lawmakers haven't debated gay marriage, the legislature would be giving agencies inappropriate power to determine who fits the definition of "immediate" family.
Kevin Baskins, a member of the commission told the ABC affiliate KAAL that its move was simply to comply with state policy. "The language that we are changing brings us up to speed with what the state definition is," he said.
Bartz is questioning why the department didn't just set a limit on the number of people who could use a campsite, and not get into how they are related. "That would be better for everybody," Bartz said.
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