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culture
Iowa Clears Way for Gay Marriage (Really? Iowa?)
The Iowa Supreme Court unanimously ruled Friday that a 1998 law which limited marriage to a man and a woman was unconstitutional, stating that same-sex marriages may begin in Iowa in as soon as three weeks.
Tonight I happened to attend a dinner with a professor from the University of Iowa. He told me that when he heard about the decision on CNN, he was more surprised that his state was making national news than to hear that gay marriages would soon be legalized.
A lot of people, he said, misjudge Iowa. So it's not a rural state with a lot of corn, wondered one of my dinner mates. Yes, it is, he said. But it's also the state that helped propel Barack Obama to the presidency. In January 2008, Obama won Iowa's Democratic caucus, and many political commentators saw his win in Iowa as a sign he could win the country. Obama won the state of Iowa 10 months later in the general election.
In this context, it's not as surprising that this state smack dab in the middle of the Midwest will become only the third state in the country, following Massachusetts and Connecticut, to permit gay marriage. (Of course, California's decision to allow gay marriage was overturned in November.) The full text of the Supreme Court's decision can be read here.
Lambda Legal, an organization that works to gain civil rights for lesbians, gay men and people with HIV/AIDS, filed a lawsuit in 2005 with Iowa's Polk County Court on behalf of six same-sex couples who were denied marriage licenses in Iowa, with the argument that denying marriage to same-sex couples violates liberty and equality guarantees in the state's constitution.The Iowa Supreme Court opinion states that the legislature enacted a law that excluded gay and lesbian people from marriage, the executive branch of the state enforced the law by refusing to issue marriage licenses to same-sex couples, and the judicial branch had the responsibility to determine if the law violates the Iowa Constitution. The Court decided that it did.
"A statute inconsistent with the Iowa Constitution must be declared void, even though it may be supported by strong and deep-seated beliefs and popular opinion," the court's opinion read.
A poll taken in February 2008 showed that 62 percent of Iowans believed marriage should only be between a man and a woman, while 32 percent said they believed same-sex marriage should be allowed, the Des Moines Register reported. Six percent were unsure.
Once gay marriages are allowed, 21 days following the Supreme Court's April 3 decision, it seems likely that gay marriage will remain a right in Iowa for several years, since a constitutional amendment banning it would require the state legislature to approve the ban during two consecutive sessions, and then the voters would be asked to weigh in, the New York Times reported. A CNN report stated that the earliest the issue could get on a ballot would be 2012.
Iowa has no residency requirement for getting a marriage license, so people from other parts of the country might be making their way to the Hawkeye State to get hitched.
In other Midwestern news this week, the University of Notre Dame rejected students' petition to add sexual orientation to the school's nondiscrimination clause.
Who knew there was so much diversity in the Heartland?
Tonight I happened to attend a dinner with a professor from the University of Iowa. He told me that when he heard about the decision on CNN, he was more surprised that his state was making national news than to hear that gay marriages would soon be legalized.
A lot of people, he said, misjudge Iowa. So it's not a rural state with a lot of corn, wondered one of my dinner mates. Yes, it is, he said. But it's also the state that helped propel Barack Obama to the presidency. In January 2008, Obama won Iowa's Democratic caucus, and many political commentators saw his win in Iowa as a sign he could win the country. Obama won the state of Iowa 10 months later in the general election.
In this context, it's not as surprising that this state smack dab in the middle of the Midwest will become only the third state in the country, following Massachusetts and Connecticut, to permit gay marriage. (Of course, California's decision to allow gay marriage was overturned in November.) The full text of the Supreme Court's decision can be read here.
Lambda Legal, an organization that works to gain civil rights for lesbians, gay men and people with HIV/AIDS, filed a lawsuit in 2005 with Iowa's Polk County Court on behalf of six same-sex couples who were denied marriage licenses in Iowa, with the argument that denying marriage to same-sex couples violates liberty and equality guarantees in the state's constitution.The Iowa Supreme Court opinion states that the legislature enacted a law that excluded gay and lesbian people from marriage, the executive branch of the state enforced the law by refusing to issue marriage licenses to same-sex couples, and the judicial branch had the responsibility to determine if the law violates the Iowa Constitution. The Court decided that it did.
"A statute inconsistent with the Iowa Constitution must be declared void, even though it may be supported by strong and deep-seated beliefs and popular opinion," the court's opinion read.
A poll taken in February 2008 showed that 62 percent of Iowans believed marriage should only be between a man and a woman, while 32 percent said they believed same-sex marriage should be allowed, the Des Moines Register reported. Six percent were unsure.
Once gay marriages are allowed, 21 days following the Supreme Court's April 3 decision, it seems likely that gay marriage will remain a right in Iowa for several years, since a constitutional amendment banning it would require the state legislature to approve the ban during two consecutive sessions, and then the voters would be asked to weigh in, the New York Times reported. A CNN report stated that the earliest the issue could get on a ballot would be 2012.
Iowa has no residency requirement for getting a marriage license, so people from other parts of the country might be making their way to the Hawkeye State to get hitched.
In other Midwestern news this week, the University of Notre Dame rejected students' petition to add sexual orientation to the school's nondiscrimination clause.
Who knew there was so much diversity in the Heartland?
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Joanie
12:31PM 12:31PM Apr 4th 2009
This is disgusting that non-elected judges can get together and go against the people's mandate. We are in serious trouble as a nation that this can go on. Justices are not supposed to be in the position of making up their own laws.
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SN4VES
3:15AM 3:15AM Apr 4th 2009
By the people, for the people?!
"A poll taken in February 2008 showed that 62 percent of Iowans believed marriage should only be between a man and a woman, while 32 percent said they believed same-sex marriage should be allowed, the Des Moines Register reported. Six percent were unsure."
Gotta love them judges!
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sioxcityk
10:47AM 10:47AM Apr 4th 2009
Joanie get informed please they were not making new laws the judges were upholding the constitutional rights of all. Please before you spew your ignorance get informed
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Alyssa
10:20AM 10:20AM Apr 15th 2009
"Justices are not supposed to be in the position of making up their own laws" **** The courts are perfectly within their purview to question the constitutionality of laws passed by the legislature. This has been true since Marbury vs. Madison when Jefferson became President.
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Feed the Republicans to the Lions
5:59AM 5:59AM Apr 4th 2009
What are we straight folks afraid of? How will a same gender marriage effect YOU? How does it take away the love YOU feel for YOUR wife/husband and children? If you want to say because it is against the Bible...well, SOOOO many things we do are "against" the Bible (what you really mean is that it is against your churches principles - and THAT has NOTHING to do with the Bible). So, let's say we ALL put on our big boy and girl panties and grow up just a smidgeon? By doing so, you may get to know a family member who is a bit different than you but your attitude, hatred and bigotry has made them hide who they REALLY are.
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Ninjanobi
4:47PM 4:47PM Apr 6th 2009
Explain to me why it is acceptable to you for gay marriage to be legalized when already, for example, California Family Code SS 297 states Civil Unions get the same exact rights as married couples, in light of the fact that popular opinions are against it? Also explain to me how it is acceptable to you to infringe upon the rights of people who don't agree with you? Why is it that you are intolerant of intolerance? Don't you see that as hypocrisy, since it is? Simply put, if Civil Unions receive the same types of benefits as married couples, then the gay community is pushing its own intolerant views upon a public which is happy to give them the same rights. They would be happier FORCING people to accept gay marriage, ruining traditional marriage and not caring one lick for the people they are intolerant of.
Oh, yes... by the way, check out "Experts Worldwide Find Gay Adoption Harmful for Children:"http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1417036/posts
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Feed the Republicans to the Lions
6:42PM 6:42PM Apr 6th 2009
Explain to me, "ninjibob" (sounds like a chuck norris wannabe teenage ninny) why you feel that your bigotry and hatred of others is an acceptable reason to deny someone the same rights you have? In 50 some years of my life what I have found is people with big mouths who protest the loudest are usually the first to be secretly tapping their toes under the walmart men's room stall or the woman next door who is busy sleeping with her female best friend.
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kspserv
5:32PM 5:32PM Apr 7th 2009
I have no problem with who wants to marry who and yes I am a christian. I will not say being gay is right but, as a true christian I still love all people. However someone being gay should be the last thing on our minds, so what, if gay people want to marry, so what, I dont care, I do care and we all should, black, white, gay or straight where the country is headed right now. that is what should be on all our minds. if gays want to marry good luck, but a piece of advice, marriage is not all its cracked up to be. good luck and prayers to all.
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John padrick murry
8:47PM 8:47PM Apr 23rd 2009
i do not like gays if you do not like it you can stuff it.
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Me
6:45AM 6:45AM Apr 4th 2009
WHO are we to judge anyone?? For God's sake, I do not believe in telling anyone who they can and cannot love. AND YES I am a Conservative. But I also believe in People's rights. Its time all states allow Civil Unions.
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Jenna
1:00PM 1:00PM Apr 4th 2009
GAYS affect everyone!!! Homosexuality is wrong along with gay marriage...nobody in their right mind is born gay..it is a disgusting/disturbing desire...According to AIDS statistics....over 50% of people are gay or had a sexual gay encounter that has the HIV/AIDS VIRUS!!! Yes people gays do affect the world!!!
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KYcowboy41
10:47AM 10:47AM Apr 6th 2009
First of all before you go to spewing statistics you need to get your facts straight when it comes to Aids infection rates. Aids is not a Gay Mans desease nor is it caused by homosexuality. The facts are...
More than 25 million people have died of AIDS since 1981.
Africa has 11.6 million AIDS orphans.
At the end of 2007, women accounted for 50% of all adults living with HIV worldwide, and for 59% in sub-Saharan Africa.
Young people (under 25 years old) account for half of all new HIV infections worldwide.
In developing and transitional countries, 9.7 million people are in immediate need of life-saving AIDS drugs; of these, only 2.99 million (31%) are receiving the drugs.
According to the 2007 report by the CDC man to mam contact represents less then 47% of all reported cases of Aids transmissions and 44% of these are black men , many who are playing on the down-low or are drug users.
The largest proportion of reported Aids cases is in straight men & women around the world not Gays and Lesbians.
Further, it is feared that many more , especially in the US carry the Aids or HIV virus without knowing it because they have not been tested.NO ONE is exempt from HIV.
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SUMMER
1:02PM 1:02PM Apr 4th 2009
GAYS affect everyone!!! Homosexuality is wrong along with gaymarriage...nobody in their right mind is born gay..it is a disgusting/disturbing desire...According to AIDS statistics....over50% of people are gay or had a sexual gay encounter that has theHIV/AIDS VIRUS!!! Yes people gays do affect the world!!!
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Becky
3:05AM 3:05AM Apr 28th 2009
Where did you find your stats on AIDs? The facts state that promiscuous heterosexual or homosexual individuals are more at risk then anyone else. In other words it don't matter if someone is having sex with the same sex or opposite sex... if they have or have had more than one partner he or she is at a higher risk. So by committing themselves to one partner the risk is basically nil. Do you have another arguement perhaps, because spreading AIDS isn't going to work since by getting married they are commiting themselves to one partner?
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Charlie
1:51PM 1:51PM Apr 4th 2009
I'm not saying I want to marry a guy or ever will, I would just like to have the right to choose if I wanted to. And for all the people who say you aren't born that way, did we miss the memo where it's like a light switch and you suddenly decide to turn it on, please get a life and go preach your word to someone who gives a damn.
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mahalapril
3:26PM 3:26PM Apr 4th 2009
People should know about gays who are becoming more aggressive,arrogant and violent.Whats wrong with civil unions. This gay marriage is just for financial selfish interests and lust and gays know that gay marriage will destroy and confuse the future of our children and grandchildren.This has nothing to do with love.When AIDS came to America from Africa the gays were forced to become monogamous because they would have been exterminated. Before AIDS came the gays engaged in multiple sexual partners in bathouses.Their anal/oral sexual practice facilitated the transmission of AIDS. It was always about lusts and not love from the very beginning and they are also parasites because they have to be with heterosexuals to prevent extinction because they can't propagate in isolation.
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Godfrey
4:34PM 4:34PM Apr 7th 2009
After all has been said and done, we will pay for gay marriages.
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mahalapril
3:24PM 3:24PM Apr 4th 2009
I can understand gay feelings are real ,however it is not about love but only lusts. The gays are not survivors of the fittest. They did not evolve first otherwise the humans would have been extinct.The heterosexuals evolved first so that humans will survive.The gays evolved later but they will always be parasites of the heterosexuals to prevent their extinction.
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Alyssa
12:54PM 12:54PM Apr 15th 2009
Uh no, not in the slightest. In all likelihood, homosexuality was present throughout the evolution of humankind, right along with heterosexuality. Homosexuals just make up a lower percentage of the population. It is clear that two heterosexual people are prefectly capable of producing homosexual offspring.
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michaelbinca
5:07PM 5:07PM Apr 4th 2009
Iowa. I was born in Iowa, attended The University of Iowa, and returned there in August 1981 (I.O.W.A. which means "I Oughta Went Around"). No, I'm heterosexual.
Believe me, if is DONE in Iowa, it is all about money. With the population of Iowa having been in decline since 1880, those left are either Jew, Catholic, and/or Episcopalian (and Italian). And, I mean the secular aforementioned, with et al having been squeezed out due to Socialism/Corporatism. Yes, the IQ of Iowans probably has gone up with this squeezing out but, after all, they create the IQ Tests. But, look just how SMART we were having left this sh** hole. It shows with this overturning of the law, the Iowa Supreme Court, composed of scum bag lawyers, who having passed the Iowa Bar, are willing to accept fags. Something is better than nothing. Even fags eat pizza, drink in their bars, pay taxes (a real biggie), qualify for Obama's Handout Grants, use K-Y (supplied by the priests), and are probably "better" citizens than I would be if I still lived in Iowa. Again, it's about money, nothing more, nothing less. All the idealistic BS is what it is, BS.
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