President Bush’s recent proposal to ban gay marriages has caused a flood of controversy in the ISU community and around the country.

In an effort to educate students and faculty on the topic and to represent different viewpoints concerning gay marriages, the Department of Residence’s Citizen Leader Forum Series will host a panel discussion titled “Should Gay Marriage be Legalized?” at 7 p.m. Wednesday in the Union Drive Community Center Room 136.

“The purpose is not to be controversial but to offer a variety of perspectives, a well-rounded view to allow students to form their own decision on the matter,” said John Shertzer, residence life coordinator for the Department of Residence. “We want to get faculty to interact with students, and we want students to acknowledge hot issues in the world and to be informed about issues that affect them.”

Shertzer said it is important for students to learn how to engage in a discussion about controversial issues in a civil way.

“I’d like students to come and listen and provide their own thoughts,” he said. “I want to provide dialogue safely, so no one is judged [on their opinions].”

Linda Trudeau, assistant scientist for the Institute for Social and Behavioral Research, is one of the panelists. She said she feels gay marriage is an important issue for students to be informed about.

“I’m glad it’s coming to the forefront,” she said. “People need to see issues that are caused by discrimination.”

Trudeau said she supports legalizing gay marriages since she has seen the challenges her own daughter has faced as a lesbian.

“Her biggest challenge was coming out to herself, [not] pretending she was straight,” she said. “I’d like to see her marriage [with her partner] legally sanctioned, because of the benefits for them and for their kids.”

Robert Baum, associate professor of religious studies, said he will not be taking a specific stance on the issue. Instead, he will share his knowledge of how marriage is perceived cross-culturally.

“There are cultures in which marriage between the same sex has been going on for thousands of years, and [these cultures] don’t refer to them as homosexual,” Baum said. “That’s a label that has developed in the late 19th and early 20th century.”

Historically, the federal government hasn’t had anything to do with the regulation of marriage law, Baum said.

“There’s no mention of marriage in the U.S. Constitution,” he said. “But [the idea of] heterosexual relationships aren’t protected either.”

Bush’s proposal to ban gay marriages will be covered in the panel discussion, Shertzer said.

“It’s a factor that’s been kept in the news,” he said.

Another topic that will be addressed in the discussion the history of marriage.

“[We will talk about] the definition of marriage and how its been defined over the generations,” Shertzer said. “Our goal is to represent all sides of the issue.”

Some student groups, such as Campus Crusade for Christ, oppose gay marriage.

“The Bible doesn’t support homosexuality. I know a lot of people out there think the Bible is just a bunch of rules, but God created a man and woman to be together,” said Carly Huhn, junior in music and treasurer for the organization.

Carolyn Cutrona, professor of psychology; Jeremy Hayes, graduate assistant in education leadership and policy studies, and Megan Murphy, assistant professor of human development and family studies are also scheduled to be on the panel for Wednesday’s discussion.