DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — Supporters of an Iowa constitutional amendment banning gay marriage warned Monday that voters are demanding to have their say on the issue, while opponents argued that fundamental rights should not be subjected to the politics of the day.

Both sides made their case before a public hearing conducted by Iowa's House Judiciary Committee, which last week approved a resolution calling for a vote on the issue. Supporters have been seeking a constitutional amendment in response to a 2009 Iowa Supreme Court ruling that legalized gay marriage in the state.

More than 70 people signed up to testify at the hearing and several hundred more jammed the House gallery to watch.

"When will the people be allowed to vote?" said Danny Carroll, of the conservative group the Family Leader, which led a campaign that led to the ouster of three justices who were up for retention after the court's unanimous decision. "We respectfully ask that we have the right to vote on our constitution."

To put the issue on the ballot, a resolution would have to be approved by the current Legislature and the one to be elected next year.

Aides to House Speaker Kraig Paulsen, D-Hiawatha, said the full House will debate the issue Tuesday. He's predicted easy approval in that chamber, where Republicans have a 60-40 edge.

But supporters face a much tougher test in the Senate, where Democrats hold a 26-24 edge and Majority Leader Michael Gronstal, D-Council Bluffs, has vowed to block debate on the issue. Under Senate rules, the majority leader has the authority to decide what is debated.

Gronstal said the amendment would amount to "writing discrimination into the Iowa Constitution." To put the issue on the ballot, a resolution would have to be approved by the current Legislature and the one to be elected next year.

During Monday's hearing, both sides made religious arguments to bolster their position.

"The only proof that I need to define marriage between one man and one woman is the Bible, God's word," said Kyle Poush, of Mason City. "God said it, I believe, and that settles it."

The Rev. Matt Mardis-LeCroy, pastor at Plymouth Congregational United Church of Christ in Des Moines, had the opposite take.

"I also urge opposition to this resolution because it so blatantly disregards the religious diversity of our state," said Mardis-LeCroy. "Religious people in Iowa are not of one mind on the subject of marriage."

Jack Morlan, of Urbandale, said he was living the gay lifestyle before undergoing a religious conversion.

"I found rescue and hope in the arms of loving parents and Jesus Christ my savior," said Morlan. "Please do not buy into the lies of the homosexual advocates."

But Dawn BarbouRoske, one of the plaintiffs who filed the lawsuit that led to the court's ruling that struck a state law defining marriage as being between one man and one woman, saw it differently.

"Marriage is two people committed to love each other and build a life together," the Iowa City woman said. "Our marriage is woven together with love, honesty, hard work, laughter, trust and respect. These are core traditional values not dependent on gender."

Others opponents of the amendment said the issue is about protecting people's rights and noted that the law doesn't require churches to perform same-sex marriages.

"Iowa has a long and proud history of being on the cutting edge in this nation when it comes to rights," said Ken Sagar, president of the Iowa Federation of Labor. "Labor has a long history of standing up for those who don't have a voice or those who are being abused by the powerful."