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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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Willet
8:24PM 8:24PM Apr 5th 2009
All this stuff is pushed by paid protestors and paid activist. And activist show up in amazing places.... like the bench.
Gay marriage in Iowa, or anywhere else, is worthless until gay's gain more consent with the average Joe that they work with, ride the train with or watch a sporting event with.
Anthing else is hollow and worthless.
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Jerry
8:33PM 8:33PM Apr 5th 2009
So what's next, will it'll be ok to marry an animal. I can't see any difference.
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Feed the Republicans to the Lions
6:45PM 6:45PM Apr 6th 2009
you are right - because human beings ARE animals and PART of the animal kingdom. See, I can be as stupid and sarcastic as a useless butt pimple like yourself can be.
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NotesToMel
12:21AM 12:21AM Apr 6th 2009
Iowa will be punished for this decision. How, I don't know. When, I don't know either. All I know for sure, is that as a Christian, I can not endorse a sin. I can't in good faith watch so many people be brainwashed into thinking this is not a sin. No man made law, or media blitz, or sugar coating will change this unatural act into becoming righteous in the eyes of Holy God. And secondly, all the arguements the gays display down here on earth won't work when they are standing before God for final judgement. I don't believe they will be able to convince God that it isn't a sin, do you? Gays are unable to grasp that their will be a reckoning of their actions. To not call it a sin, an abomination in the eyes of God, is to be in total denial. As a Christian, it is unfair for the gays to force me to accept their sin, endorse it, celebrate it, or make it legal. It will never be acceptable. Not ever. Shame on Iowa, and the people who brought this forth. How will you stand before God and explain your vote to Him? Think about it.
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Feed the Republicans to the Lions
6:51AM 6:51AM Apr 7th 2009
ROOOOOOOOOOOOOOFL. You mean like Connecticut, Mass, NJ, Vermont, Italy, England, Netherlands.... shall I go on? GROW UP. I can't wait til judgment day to see God telling you useless bigots how "He" doesn't know you and banishes your ignorant, hateful, bigoted little souls right to hell.
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NotesToMel
12:43AM 12:43AM Apr 6th 2009
Gays who claim they want to be able to love whoever they want, have no idea of what love is. They are so far removed from the love of God, their idea of love is twisted, perverted, rebellious, anti establishment, and against having a relation with God. I am a firm believer that we most love God first and foremost, through Him we develop the brotherly love for one another, for mankind. If these gays knew God and his love, they would never, ever go down this path of perversion. Giving in to this perversion is NOT NATURAL and certainly not from the love of God and what he desires for us to be. It will never be okay to act out these perverted desires. Never. The lack of social shame is what is needed. There is nothing to be proud of being a perverted, sinful, abomination in eyes of God. Shame on Iowa and these twisted lawyers who will have to explain to God on judgement day their actions. A price will be paid for your decisions.
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Feed the Republicans to the Lions
5:09PM 5:09PM Apr 6th 2009
Boy are YOU way off. You pass a judgement and you yourself aren't gay - so how do you know what their relationship is with God? Ya know, the Bible says that the road to hell will be paved with folks like you. So, if the gays are going to hell, you need to find a way to get REAL comfortable around them.
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Michael
5:38PM 5:38PM Apr 8th 2009
Are you saying that all gays are devil worshippers? That's not true. I have lived with my partner now for going on 6 years and we have a house together, share a bank account to pay the bills (which we both contribute to equally) and for the most part live a happy life together. We both love GOD and have a good relationship with him. Our lives are between us and GOD and for someone like you to come around and make an assumption that you are JUST in what you say is very sickening. I have you in my prayers from this day forward and hope that one day you are able to see the truth, the light, and have a strong relationship, just as we, with God. Thank you and God Bless.
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LT
1:12AM 1:12AM Apr 6th 2009
Another state falling into the sewer, the damned fags are taking over the world it seems. What happened to the good days when they were in the closet? Even too many TV shows have to have at least one queer in it, they all need to be shot. "Born gay" is merely a pathetic excuse to try and make it okay. The sickos have taken over Disney World too, more then half of the male employees are queer, it was meant to be a fmaily park, not a paradise for fags.
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Alyssa
1:47PM 1:47PM Apr 15th 2009
"What happened to the good days when they were in the closet? " **Sigh** Yeah, those good old days when blacks, women, gays, and Jews all knew their place as subjugated and lesser human beings.
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John padrick murry
6:12PM 6:12PM Apr 27th 2009
You are right the gays seem to want to take over this country Over my dead body!
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fred
10:48AM 10:48AM Apr 6th 2009
hey world wake up! iowa is severely a blue state. remember iowa launched obama. gannet news aka the des moines register was just thrilled about this event. here's their spin..." it'll be good for tourism!" hahahahahaha holy crap. tourism. hey we're short on gays and illegals here. someone's gotta take 'em right?
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mahalapril
11:32AM 11:32AM Apr 6th 2009
People just think of the sexual practices of the Gays before AIDS came. They have multiple sexual partners in bathouses and their sexual practice facilitated the transmission of AIDS forcing them to become monogamous.It was always lust from the very beginning and not about love . Now they want money for their lusts and willing to destroy and confuse the future of our children and grandchildren. Send the gays to the islamic countries ,Venezuela and Cuba and let them try having sex with the men there. Let's see what will happen to gays. We already know.
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timdouglas
2:33PM 2:33PM Apr 6th 2009
Wow! There a lot of ignorant people out there. Homosexuality is a sin. eating shrimp isn't. Read the entire bible before you make unwise comments please.
Alcoholism is also a sin.
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moderate
3:26PM 3:26PM Apr 6th 2009
Wow, there are a bunch of you judgemental faux christians out today. America is a secular nation, your religion belongs at home or your place of worship. If you posters are an example of christian values no thank you.
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Ninjanobi
4:49PM 4:49PM 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
6:51AM 6:51AM Apr 7th 2009
ROFL... what a butt monkey. OF COURSE you would post a biased report - and there is NO study that was done. The produced no results, only a biblical slant in a writing - and THAT is why gays and lesbians will be allowed to adopt. And FYI: gays and lesbians have been raising children since the dawn of time. And if gays raising a child makes a child gay then how come straights raising a child doesn't make a gay child straight? Logic will always prevail and biblical anarchists will always fall by the way side.
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mahalapril
5:51PM 5:51PM Apr 6th 2009
Moderate- You know I am not a christian but please commment about the lusts ,multiple sexual partners and sexual practice of the gays that facilitated AIDS and forced them to become monogamous.It was always lusts from the the very beginning and now they are asking money for it even though they know it will destroy and confuse the future of our children and grandchildren.
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moderate
9:57AM 9:57AM Apr 7th 2009
The only people who will be confused are the ones who are taught to hate. As as far as your contention that only gays are capable of promiscuity,that is obviously false. Marriage is at a 50% divorce rate.Cheating is prime reason for this figure. Your fears and insecurities as well as hate for anything diffrent are very well know on these sights.
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emily
11:43PM 11:43PM Apr 6th 2009
If it weren't for the "evil" judges in our country, we'd still have slavery. We would still be a segregated country.
Sometimes the majority isn't always right. That's why we have people who look out for us, and for the rights of ALL American citizens. And yes, that includes homosexuals.
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