Iowa Court Legalizes Gay Marriage

// added April 03, 2009 // 47 comments //
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DES MOINES — Iowa became the first state in the Midwest to approve same-sex marriage on Friday, after the Iowa Supreme Court unanimously decided that a 1998 law limiting marriage to a man and a woman was unconstitutional.

The decision was the culmination of a four-year legal battle that began with a suit filed on behalf of six same-sex couples in the lower courts.

The Supreme Court said same-sex marriages could begin in Iowa in as soon as 21 days, making Iowa only the third state in the nation, along with Massachusetts and Connecticut, to legalize gay marriage.

Same-sex marriages will be permitted in Iowa for at least two years, because the legislative process required to overturn the ruling would take that long. A constitutional amendment would require the state legislature to approve a ban on same-sex marriage in two consecutive sessions after which voters would have a chance to weigh in. Despite opposition to the ruling by Republican lawmakers, Democrats, who control the legislature, have given no indication that they intend to introduce such an amendment.

End of Excerpt

Source: The New York Times Online
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47 comments // Iowa Court Legalizes Gay Marriage

  • NJDaryl
  • uroborus8
    • 0
      uroborus8  
    • Image...
    • I was in Iowa on April 3 and proposed to my partner of 5 years. We intend to return to our home state this summer to tie the knot. Check out my blog about the day at the link.

    • 10 months ago
  • anglcazn
  • FXWarrior
  • FallenMorgan
    • 0
      FallenMorgan  
    • FXWarrior:

      How would you like to be dragged out of your home and hanged just because of who you are? You talk about gays and Muslims and others as if they're sub-human.

      If you don't like the fact that gays have rights, and you love the bigotry and hatred in Iran, go there.

    • 10 months ago
  • FXWarrior
  • FallenMorgan
  • soleil10
    • 0
      soleil10  
    • Single sex union is 100% sexist. It rejects the opposite sex. It is gender-phobic and discriminating especially against children.
      It will never equal the marriage of a man and a woman whose love will blossom in creating and raising their own children.
      Single sex union are thiefs who need to who need to get an egg or a sperm outside of their union.
      It is cruel to children by violating their unaliable right ot a mother and a father.
      Judges or politicians are arrogant enough to believe that they can legislate marriage. That is ignorance

    • 10 months ago
  • QuitItAlready
  • soleil10
  • smallgod
    • 0
      smallgod  
    • soleil10:

      soleil10,

      If you can take it up the ass, you should be able to get married. Also if you can take it up the ass, you're well equipped to have children.

      Comments like yours resonate from thought similar to racist holdovers after civil rights insisting that whites were still somehow superior. Grow up.

    • 10 months ago
  • soleil10
    • 0
      soleil10  
    • soleil10:

      I dont' small dog.

      You use of profanity and sick imagery show how weak your argument is.

      If single sex "marriage" was equal homosexuals would create their own institution. Because it is not equal they are trying to redefine it and steal it.

      Fortunately, a counterfeit will always be a counterfeit.
      If lawyers and politicians do not protect the real currency, it will be devalued and another currency will have to be created.
      The state will loose by alienating their own citizens.

    • 10 months ago
  • anglcazn
    • 0
      anglcazn  
    • soleil10:

      "I dont' small dog."
      Omg! Don't use the word god. How pathetic.

      "You use of profanity and sick imagery show how weak your argument is."
      Yes because profanity and sick imagery COMPLETELY DESTROYS a person's argument. More like you can't come up with a contradiction or counter argument.

      "If single sex "marriage" was equal homosexuals would create their own institution. Because it is not equal they are trying to redefine it and steal it."
      Omg. No no no no no. Homosexuals are NOT looking to redefine marriage. They are trying to obtain rights that are guaranteed to EVERYONE ELSE!

      "Fortunately, a counterfeit will always be a counterfeit.
      If lawyers and politicians do not protect the real currency, it will be devalued and another currency will have to be created.
      The state will loose by alienating their own citizens."
      How hypocritical. Let's ban homosexual marriage but if the state allows same-sex marriage it will alienate their own citizens. How does your brain work?

    • 10 months ago
  • maxjunk
    • 0
      maxjunk  
    • Dammit, Michigan is still a straight marriage only state. Why can't we just let people be happy and give everyone equal rights?

    • 10 months ago
  • FXWarrior
  • krag2112
  • quixotic12
    • 0
      quixotic12  
    • FXWarrior:

      It makes me sad about humanity when I read things like this. I try to be optimistic about people, but when some of them have opinions that are so exclusionary and intolerant it's really hard. We're all in this together people, let's try to make it as pleasant as possible by not hating each other.

    • 10 months ago
  • sraevoz
    • 0
      sraevoz  
    • FXWarrior:

      Wow, you're hissing and spraying everywhere like trapped cat. It really must make you feel uneasy with these walls of justice and equality closing in around you; while your once spiteful and vindictive god is noticeably absent. Worry not, your cries aren't futile, they make wonderful fodder for me and my friends.

    • 10 months ago
  • FallenMorgan
  • smallgod
  • jh64487
  • smallgod
  • timetide
    • 0
      timetide  
    • Why is it states that are normaly seen by us in california as conservative leading the civil rights charge instead of us? and way to go Iowa!

    • 10 months ago
  • krag2112
  • InformedTexan
    • 0
      InformedTexan  
    • This is great for the U.S. for sure, but unfortunately injustice in the form of violence and incarceration still faces millions of homosexuals around the world.

    • 10 months ago
  • derek8182
    • 0
      derek8182  
    • YAY! Although I for one would not want to move to Iowa just to be married but I am sure soon when most of the older crowd dies away there will be a load of stuff the younger generations will get changed in this world to make it better for everyone!

    • 10 months ago
  • Mikeysfake1
  • occono
  • artemis6
    • 0
      artemis6  
    • Iowa , imagine that - well done . My sis is gay . she has 2 kids with her girlfriend . Some of the best parents I know . I wish they could get married where we live . We could have a party .

    • 10 months ago
  • Truthaddict
    • 0
      Truthaddict  
    • I do not agree with same sex marriage....
      That being said though just because i dont like it doesnt make it that people shouldnt have the right too.
      But on a really different note id like to add that i dont think alot of people take marriage as serious as they used too. Way to high of divorce ratios in this country and its sad to me. I thought it was till death do we part!!
      Still no matter what sex you are or how long youve known each other if you do feel you have a life long commitment to the other then im all for it.
      I would like to argue something else though... same sex marriage couples should not have the right to adopt , artificailly get pregnant or harbor children of any kind for any reason, it doesnt even make sense to me. Dont hate me thats just my opinion.

    • 10 months ago
  • occono
  • krush_productions
    • 0
      krush_productions  
    • Truthaddict:

      I have several friends who we're adopted and raised by "two mothers". They turned out to be model citizens of society.

      I am the product of a divorce, raised by the wilderness, animals, occasionally mom. I developed a better relationship with my father when I moved out at 17. I stay somewhat in contact with my family. I am not a model citizen of society.

      It's not the sexual orientation you should look it, it's whether or not that couple should
      1. Bring a child into this over populated planet?
      2. Are they Mentally, Financially, Physically, able to take are of a child?
      Those a just a few things we should be asking EVERY couple wishing to have children.
      Does that make sense?

    • 10 months ago
  • wright1330
    • 0
      wright1330  
    • It is instances like this that can be blamed for our past and current troubles. The word of God speaks about his response, and its effects on the nations for disobedience and complete disregard of who he is.

      Truth is, we're all responsible, including myself as a beleiver. However, my spiritual discernment, based on His word, instructs me to hate what God hates.

    • 10 months ago
  • DeliaTheArtist
  • krush_productions
  • derek8182
  • DeliaTheArtist
    • 0
      DeliaTheArtist  
    • How the hell is Iowa going to do this before my home state of NY? C'mon New York, we used to be hip, with it, progressive! We have a large gay population! What the hell is taking us so long?

    • 10 months ago
  • occono
  • DeliaTheArtist
    • 0
      DeliaTheArtist  
    • DeliaTheArtist:

      Meh, I'm not sure about that. I live about an hour upstate from the city and there's not a lot of "anti-gay" people; at least not enough to prevent marriage. Is there a reason why you thought that? Maybe you know something I don't!

    • 10 months ago
  • RepressThis
  • morirjedi
  • kennymotown
    • 0
      kennymotown  
    • This is only right, what the hell are people so against the gays. Your wasting your time, they deserve every right we enjoy. Stop picking on these people and try instead to get that penis enlarger kit and maybe it will work and the world will be a better place because you like yourself again.

    • 10 months ago
  • jubal
    • 0
      jubal  
    • kennymotown:

      You said penis enlarger.....lol.....smirk.....seriously that is probably why they have to hate on everyone else. They see those hot pictures of gay men in the magazines with the 9x6 penises and they experience envy and cover it with disgust.

    • 10 months ago
  • GDannsk
  • sigil
  • dreamsenvoy
  • tomas_el_madrileno
  • jubal
  • abipolarmind
  • occono
  • CarolynGillis
  • unimatrix0
    • 0
      unimatrix0  
    • current89

      I was just about to look at the News feeds and then I got your email. Way to be on top of the news. This should go to the top! Great way to start the day.

      Justice will prevail. The forces of ignorance and darkness will be exterminated by the light of reason and compassion.

      The religious nuts and homophobes will squeal in pain like stuck pigs (music to my ears).

    • 10 months ago
  • current89
  • Johnll
    • 0
      Johnll  
    • Well I didn't think the state of INDIANA would be for any type of diversity like that anyway we're soooooo fucking ass backwards it sickening....

    • 10 months ago
  • Fanofsinatra
  • current89
  • current89
    • 0
      current89  
    • Image...
    • Here's a map of the status of same-sex unions in the United States, below is the color code. What is your states status?

      Violet-Same-sex marriages

      Green-Unions granting rights similar to marriage

      Purple-Unions granting limited/enumerated rights

      Blue-Foreign same-sex marriages recognized

      Yellow-Statute bans same-sex marriage

      Orange-Constitution bans same-sex marriage

      Red-Constitution bans same-sex marriage and other kinds of same-sex unions

    • 10 months ago

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