By Andrew Harmon on Advocate.com

Iowa’s senate majority leader will block any attempt to bring a constitutional amendment banning marriage equality before voters, the Associated Press reports.

Democratic state senator Michael Gronstal told the AP that he would not allow debate on measures intended to put the issue on the ballot — as is currently the case next door in Minnesota, where voters will decide next year whether to constitutionally prohibit gay marriage.

“I’m not going to put discrimination into the state’s constitution,” Gronstal said.

The senate majority leader’s position has inevitably drawn the ire of marriage equality opponents, including Bob Vander Plaats, president of The Family Leader. “I think my political assessment of his decision is it will lead to his defeat in 2012,” Vander Plaats said of Gronstal. “Obviously he’ll be a top target of ours.”

Read the AP story here.

Tags: Iowa gay marraige amendment, Iowa same sex marriage, Michael Gronstal gay marriage