Iowa State Senator Says You've Been 'Bamboozled' Into Accepting Homosexuality

A Republican Iowa state senator told fellow legislators that homosexuality creates health risks for him and his family and it is time for an honest conversation about the lifestyle. It has prompted condemnation from other legislators and gay advocate groups. 

Sen. Dennis Guth, of Klemme, said young people seeking relationship advice should be warned about the dangers of homosexuality. The lifestyle leads to medical problems for the community at-large, shorter lifespans and less fulfilling relationships, he said.

Guth thinks of health risks from homosexuality in the same vein as those from second-hand smoke, he said.

"How does same-sex relationships hurt you? This is similar to asking me how does smoking hurt you," said Guth, who listed some dangers of second-hand smoke. "So it is with same-sex relationships. There are health risks that my family incurs from sexually transmitted infections this lifestyle invites"

Guth said he was coming from a place of love, the same as if he "saw someone going on the wrong way on the street."

Listen to audio of Guth from Radio Iowa

Liston to response from Sen. Matt McCoy from Radio Iowa

Reaction came swiftly about the statements today.

A fellow Republican, Bobby Kaufmann, R-Wilton, said such abrasive comments are not helpful. 

"I do not find abrasive language such as this to be helpful to the atmosphere in Des Moines," said Kaufmann, whose district includes part of Johnson County. "I am hopeful that major changes can be made in the areas of education, property tax reform, eminent domain, and sound budgeting principles. Comments like these are not helpful nor productive."

Sen. Matt McCoy, D-Des Moines, said Guth owes all Iowans – not just gay Iowans – an apology, “but I’m not holding my breath.” McCoy, whose district includes part of West Des Moines, is Iowa’s first openly gay legislator. 

“It’s completely embarrassing and beneath the dignity of the Senate that one of its members would hold such ignorant views about a group of citizens of our state,” he said.

 “If you take out the word ‘gay’ and use a word to describe any other minority group, people would be incensed,” he said. “He is clearly out of step with the vast majority of Iowans who are accepting and tolerant."

Daniel Lundby, a Democratic representative from Marion who is also openly gay, said it is a distraction that is not worth him getting in the middle of. He'd rather focus on what brought him to Des Moines - improve education, improve the economy and improve things in his district.

"I don't let these things distract me," Lundby said. "They are there to gather media attention, and I don't want to be part of that. It's a topic that has no winners in the end."

Iowa Democratic Party chairman and state Rep. Tyler Olson of Cedar Rapids, said he is disgusted by Guth's comments.

“As a legislator and Iowan I am disgusted by Senator Guth's comments," Olson said in prepared statement. They are offensive and inaccurate and have no place in the legislature or our state. Unfortunately far too many Republican leaders feel this way and perpetuate these sorts of lies that only serve to discriminate against our gay brothers and sisters."

Olson called on Iowa Gov. Terry Branstad, a Republican and other Republicans to condemn the comments.

Donna Red Wing, who is executive director of One Iowa, a gay advocacy group, called the statements "outrageous" and "disgusting." Red Wing also posts blogs on Patch.com.

“These disgusting and outrageous lies have no place in the Iowa Legislature," Red Wing said in a prepared statement. "Senator Guth is nothing more than a puppet regurgitating the rhetoric of the well-funded anti-gay groups like Focus on the Family. Don’t we, as Iowans, deserve better than this?"

Guth also accused the media of painting a positive picture of same-sex relationships.

“The media, for the most part, has bamboozled us into thinking that having a relationship outside of the boundaries of monogamous, heterosexual marriage is positive, happy and fulfilling,” Guth said. “Movies, television shows, articles and magazines abound with this theme, giving partial information to vulnerable audience: our children.”

Shane Blanchard, a Waukee Republican who serves on City Council and previously was a member of the GOP central committee for Dallas County, said he doesn't quite understand Guth's concerns.

"I must not be up to date on STD Infections, I thought you could only get them while having intercourse with someone already infected," Blanchard said. "Unless he is speaking of some other kind of health risk, and I don't know what that could be?"

Beth Dalbey and Deb Belt contributed to this report.