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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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Previous 20 Comments
dischiklics
9:18AM 9:18AM Apr 9th 2009
For those believing in The Bible, yes, the stories you speak of are true to them. Their God is possible of creating any circumstance to make a point. You do not understand the Christian Word. The Book does not claim everything came from Adam and Eve. There were many others given life before them. Adam was the first made in God's image WITH A LIVING SOUL. Noah must have also been chosen and probably could perform what you state. Didn't you ever hear, "With God all things are possible."? Maybe you are lacking ability to hear. As for all the rest of your rant, please compose yourself. You appear to be in a PANIC(!). By the way, circumcision in The Bible has nothing to do with skin. It is the spiritual--cutting away of the flesh (desires) of the heart, making one new and pure (clean) in the eyes of The Almightly. Polygamy is wrong in the New Testament. Marriage guidance is between one man and one woman and their instruction from the apostles in Christ. The Book gives no advice on the marriage of gays as it is out of the sight of God. Science is finding Biblical truths all the time. Study the present and you will find The Words are unfolding. And, "Just as they should". I will not dispute that America should not be a free enterprise. God gives free will to "Man". That again is why I say...The Words in the Book are unfolding, "Just as they should".
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dischiklics
8:47AM 8:47AM Apr 9th 2009
aww man, is your discrimination showing! Reason this out with me the best you can. Gays are basing their pursuit and need of marriage calling out discrimination concerning sexual orientation when marching toward their goal of life, liberty and happiness rights. If indeed gays are born of such an orientation, as the medical field has deemed, and can not help their attractions, so be it that bi and transgender orientations are entitled to the same plea. There is no stopping the limits of love. A woman can love two men at the same time, or a man can love several women, or any combination of what ever gender one feels they are (and may I add again the claim...they can not help the way they were born). Laws are up for change at anytime. Apparently, so are definitions in the dictionary. Sodomy was illegal too at one time. Did that not change?
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Alyssa
1:00PM 1:00PM Apr 15th 2009
"No man made law, or media blitz, or sugar coating will change this unatural act into becoming righteous in the eyes of Holy God." **** It's not an unnatural act in the slightest. Animals engage in homosexual acts all of the time. It's as natural as heterosexual acts, if less prevelant.
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mahalapril
4:45PM 4:45PM Apr 16th 2009
Alyssa-You right animals engage in homosexual acts all the time just as gays. The only problem with the sexual acts is that both are based on lusts not love. And before AIDS it was really dirty because of multiple gay sexual partners and ANAL-PENILE SEX IS PRACTICED WHICH IS UNHEALTHY AND FORCED THE GAYS TO BECOME MONOGAMOUS TO PREVENT EXTERMINATION when AIDS came. You can't sanitize any lustful anal-penile gay sexual acts and multiple gay sexual partners .These people are parasites.Gays evolved after heterosexuals but when we put them in Islamic countries the muslims will behead them. Why. Gays should get married in Iran,Afghanistan,Pakistan and the Mid-East.
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Feed the Republicans to the Lions
6:27AM 6:27AM Apr 18th 2009
Nope, you aren't a bigot and you don't hate gays. ROFL. You're an assh*le. Here is to continued prayers of your demise at the hands of a few "parasites."
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John padrick murry
10:54PM 10:54PM Apr 27th 2009
RIGHT ON!
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John padrick murry
6:16PM 6:16PM Apr 27th 2009
It is a sad day when gays can get married me i would rather have a woman in my bed not no fudgepackers.
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John padrick murry
6:27PM 6:27PM Apr 27th 2009
Two gays got married in Iowa huh well i thought Adam and Eve were first couple not Eve and EveI think you Gays are mentally ill.Some said that is the way you are wired you are wired wrong.
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John padrick murry
10:14PM 10:14PM Jul 1st 2009
you are sick.
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John padrick murry
10:12PM 10:12PM Jul 1st 2009
I do hate gays if you do not like it then stuff it.
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Mandy
11:50AM 11:50AM May 1st 2009
GET A FRICKIN LIFE.
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Amanda
12:30PM 12:30PM Apr 30th 2009
ppl that are against homosexuals will burn in hell. this is bull sh*t. you do realize that you're trying to keep these ppl from being happy. that's not right.
John padrick murry...you're a twisted assh*le. i hope that one day you open your eyes and see that homosexuals are the same as heterosexuals.
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Amanda
12:12PM 12:12PM May 1st 2009
So here is my honest opinion. Gay marriage is legal in Iowa and there is nothing you can do about it so leave it be. If you don't like it then that's your own damn fault. Now, why don't we worry about something that is really worth worrying about like the economy instead of worrying how to make people's lives a living hell.
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mahalapril
5:41PM 5:41PM May 1st 2009
Amanda - WE ARE TALKING ABOUT THE ECONOMY. THE REASON THE GAYS ARE NOT SATISFIED WITH CIVIL UNIONS IS BECAUSE THEY CAN'T GET MUCH MONEY, HEALTH COVERAGE, AND OTHER BENEFITS COMPARED TO GAY MARRIAGE. THIS IS ABOUT FINANCIAL SELFISH INTEREST AND LUSTS. THIS IS NEVER ABOUT LOVE BECAUSE GAYS PREFER MULTIPLE GAY SEXUAL PARTNERS AND ANAL-PENILE SEX IN BATHOUSES.THEY WERE ONLY FORCED TO BECOME MONOGAMOUS BECAUSE THEY WOULD HAVE BEEN EXTERMINATED BY AIDS.FOR FINANCIAL GAINS GAYS ARE KNOWINGLY AND WILLINGLY IMPOSE GAY MARRIAGE ON THE AMERICAN MAJORITY KNOWING THAT IT WILL ALSO DESTROY AND CONFUSE THE FUTURE AND MORAL VALUES [EVEN WITHOUT RELIGION] OF OUR CHILDREN AND GRANDCHILDREN.
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