Iowa Court Strikes Down Same-Sex Marriage Ban

[Aquizit]

The news is very new, so there's not really a story I can link or anything yet since the Court hasn't released its statement, but it's been confirmed by multiple sources.

Also, the state legislature has gone on the record stating any legislation on this is very low-priority, seeing as how the budget and jobs are on the top of their list.

Also, per Iowa state law, the earliest this would be up for a constitutional change, would be 2012.


It's a good day to live here, I think.

[Grainia]

That's great news! Chuck Schumer, among others, are fighting for this here in NYS, too. They have been calling it Marriage Equality so as not to scare the upstate rednecks.

[Raziel]

Also, per Iowa state law, the earliest this would be up for a constitutional change, would be 2012.

Well, they're leaving a pretty small window for the last year of life on the planet.

[Lysimachus]

Well, they're leaving a pretty small window for the last year of life on the planet.

*shudders*

Helling mayans. *goes to make new thread*

[Irontoe]

See? Us rednecks in the vast wasteland between San Francisco and New York City can keep an open mind, too, though perhaps not because we all <3 teh gayz. As far as I'm concerned, the government should stay the hell out of our personal lives -- and this is a step in the right direction.

[Swerto]

About fucking time, this makes me very happy.

And this is my second sentence.

[Malebrignon]

And this is my second sentence.

1. This isn't in the politics forum.
2. Per the rules of the politics forum, I would still delete your post as it is clearly stated that "This is my second sentence" is unacceptable.

As far as I can tell, nobody on this site is a homophobe of any sort, so I don't consider this political.

It's great to see another state upholding this. Everyone deserves equal rights to misery...err... marriage.

[Toxaris]

misery...err... marriage.

Same thing?

Anyway, I personally just don't understand the reasoning behind any of the anti-marriage equality arguments. God hates the f-words? Seperation of church and state much? There are also quite a few other ones that make no sense at all... A lot of the prop8 ads against the gay marriage stuff were hilarious because you look and go, "What kind of a reason is that?"

Move foward people!

[Aquizit]

I didn't see this political as well, simply a statement of the news and a personal yay from me. No arguments for or against, simply a statement. If it -does- get political.. Brig has every right to slaughter my thread and give me a lashing for it.

[Grainia]

It's great to see another state upholding this. Everyone deserves equal rights to misery...err... marriage.

Absolutely correct. There is enough misery and BS to go around for everyone. (*sighs* I know of which I speak. I'm going through divorce #2.)

[Vaaldis]

This made me smile :)

& the lack of homophobia here also makes me smile.

[Thalevia]

I read the whole thing via another site and loved this section quoted by a comment to the article.


"We are firmly convinced the exclusion of gay and lesbian people from the institution of civil marriage does not substantially further any important governmental objective," the Supreme Court wrote in its decision. "The Legislature has excluded a historically disfavored class of persons from a supremely important civil institution without a constitutionally sufficient justification."

That right there is awesome.

[opalexian]

Badasssssssssssss. Now to just get the other states to realize that.

[Evanthe]

Awesome.

[Skaadvik]

1. This isn't in the politics forum.
2. Per the rules of the politics forum, I would still delete your post as it is clearly stated that "This is my second sentence" is unacceptable.

As far as I can tell, nobody on this site is a homophobe of any sort

Boy I dunno whut yer big wurds meen, but it sounds laik ya got a lil soft spot fer dem queers.

[Malorii]

WOOO!!!!


Thats awesome! Congrats to the happy couples that are chomping at the bit to get hitched :D

[Rand_Shea]

It's about time some judges were brave enough, outside of CA, to say that. Unfortunately they're usually just like politicians in that they're terrified of saying or doing the wrong thing and getting people angry at them.

And we all know a bunch of angry homophobes is infinitely more terrifying than a march of angry gays. The gays don't have a history of violence and DEATH when things don't go their way.

Here's hoping this as well as the banning of gay marriage in CA gets to the Supreme Court and this one is upheld while the one here in CA is shot to pieces. Go-go-Judicial System!

[Malorii]

I wounder if the Phelps family is going to come down to celebrate this?

[Aquizit]

I personally like this one, Thal:

"The court reaffirmed that a statute inconsistent with the Iowa
Constitution must be declared void, even though it may be supported by strong
and deep-seated traditional beliefs and popular opinion."

[Aphraelle]

I personally like this one, Thal:

"The court reaffirmed that a statute inconsistent with the Iowa
Constitution must be declared void, even though it may be supported by strong
and deep-seated traditional beliefs and popular opinion."

I can do no better than to quote the immortal words of Cabriel. *ahem* This makes me feel tingly in my pretty places. :D

[Thalevia]

I personally like this one, Thal:

"The court reaffirmed that a statute inconsistent with the Iowa
Constitution must be declared void, even though it may be supported by strong
and deep-seated traditional beliefs and popular opinion."

I like that one. It's like a big fat "neener neener civil rights are much more important than your silly morals!".

Another fun comment I read about the whole thing:
"Iowa, we got corn...and civil rights!"

[Malorii]

Honestly, I was surprised it was Iowa, I always pictured corn and churches. I was thinking maybe like.. somewhere not iowa-ish!

I know so little about my countries states :(

[Aquizit]

Well, Malorii, you're correct. That is a good way to sum up Western Iowa.

EASTERN Iowa, however, is full of college towns, (Iowa State, Iowa, Northern Iowa, etc.) and a few 'cities.'

[Aquizit]

Vermont joined MA, CT and IA today when its legislature overrode the Governor's veto of the same-sex marriage bill.

This is noteworthy for two reasons.

1. It is the fourth state in the union now to allows same-sex marriage.
2. It is the FIRST state to do so through LEGISLATIVE means, not through the courts.

The tide turns.

[Nadea]

I was SO excited to read this on my friend's Facebook this am. Nice to see at least one more State doing the right thing!

[Thalevia]

You guys are falling like dominoes it seems.

DC is joining the decent in its own fashion.

DC votes to recognize Gay Nuptials Elsewhere. (http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2009/04/07/AR2009040702200.html)

Canada knows there's room for all your states in our heathen hell and asks you to join us. Bring food, it's a potluck.

[Dorishar]

By Rand:

It's about time some judges were brave enough, outside of CA, to say that. Unfortunately they're usually just like politicians in that they're terrified of saying or doing the wrong thing and getting people angry at them.

And we all know a bunch of angry homophobes is infinitely more terrifying than a march of angry gays. The gays don't have a history of violence and DEATH when things don't go their way.

Here's hoping this as well as the banning of gay marriage in CA gets to the Supreme Court and this one is upheld while the one here in CA is shot to pieces. Go-go-Judicial System!

================================================== =====

Not to be stirring up trouble, but is discrimination against people who disagree with gay marriage any better then discriminating against gays?

Saying that non-gays have a history of violence and death is kinda a wide sweeping generalization. Not all that diagree with gay rights are violent, and not all gay rights activists take the peaceful resistance approach. Events like the Stonewall riot are proof of this

Not saying its right to be anti-gay, just saying they have as much right to there opinion as anyone else does, and as such shouldn't be stereotyped into a corner >_>

[Malebrignon]

There's a huge difference between disagreeing with gay marriage and being an angry, raging homophobe, Dor. I believe Rand is talking about the amped up, ignorant skinhead types and such.

This thread is a celebration of equal rights. Please do not make it something political that I'll have to shut down.

[Szordrin]

"If we let this get out of hand, we'll be up to our balls in jugglers"

Hot fuzz for all of you who have seen it. Sorry, 'Brig, reminded me of it.

Anyway, I have been following this through news articles for a few days now. I'd have to say that I am ridiculously excited. Not for me, mind you, but for my best friend Devan who I would like to attend her wedding some day. Perhaps by then it'll be legal in most if not all states. That'd be nice. : )