I’m sure you all know the amazing news: The Iowa Supreme Court ruled in favor of Same-Sex Civil Marriage today! As someone who is originally from Ohio, I never expected a Midwest state to jump on the marriage equality bandwagon before the coastal states, but Iowa has just proven me wrong! Thanks to the amazingly hard work of groups like One Iowa and Lambda Legal, we are another great step closer to winning equality for all LGBTQ citizens!
Please take a moment today to celebrate. Share the story with friends and family. Tell your co-workers about today’s historic event. Tell a neighbor. Send an email. Change your Facebook/Twitter status. Or join one of the many celebratory rallies that are springing up around the nation: MEUSA has planned one in San Francisco, many are happening in Iowa (thanks to One Iowa), and the Civil Rights Front is holding one in Manhattan. Check The Impact to see if a local organizer has set something up for your city. Continue the conversation of equality with this amazing news!
Here’s some links to stories about it:
- Unanimous Ruling: Iowa Marriage No Longer Limited to One Man One Woman
- One Iowa Rally Locations
- One Iowa Statement
- Google News Results
Finally, on a personal note, since the launch of Join the Impact, I have had the privilege to meet some extremely amazing people who are working toward gaining full equality for all LGBTQ citizens on both the local and national level. One of those people is a man named Joe Maribella. Joe organized the Seattle Light Up the Night event, and, since I live in Seattle, I have had many great opportunities to work directly with him as he organizes for Join the Impact in Washington State. Joe is originally from Iowa and (by shear coincidence), he and his partner (also named Joe… yup, it’s confusing) of 5 1/2 years were home in Iowa visiting this week. This morning, they woke up and saw their home state embrace their commitment. They applied for a marriage license an hour ago with a formal proposal outside of City Hall!! Congratulations to Joe… and Joe 
. Also, congratulations to all of the amazing couples that will be married in Iowa! And congratulations to all of you, who are working hard for the LGBTQ community as a whole and know that a win for one state is a win for all of us!
8 Responses
Wonderful! I felt excited hearing this news. And CONGRATS to Joe! Thank you everyone. I hope Vermont and California (again) recognizes marriage equality this year.
Happily,
Ivy.
Posted on April 3rd, 2009 at 12:50 pm
As an Iowan with an official fiancee now… AWESOME!!! Couples have to wait until the 21st to get married unless there’s a request for a rehearing, but the Polk County attorney said he wasn’t going to request one. AWESOME!!! again! I think everyone should read the official opinion put out by the supreme court. It’s very strongly worded (like, I was shocked by how fully these people believed in what they were doing) Here’s the link–
http://www.iowacourts.gov/wfData/files/Varnum/40209Varnumsummary.pdf
Everyone should read that and draw from it in their connecting with other people. I can help organize everything in your mind like crazy. (Crazy good
)
Posted on April 4th, 2009 at 10:39 am
Iowa has a rich history of progreesive rulings. Desegration of schools, slavery ba and women added to law practice. give IOWA a try!
Posted on April 6th, 2009 at 12:52 pm
Grats to everyone in Iowa! I was shocked to hear the news ,its so exciting! I’ve been waiting on word about Illinoise. Anyone have any idea when thats supposed to be?
Posted on April 7th, 2009 at 9:11 am
oops thats bad Illinois* sorry about that!
Posted on April 7th, 2009 at 9:15 am
Yay Vermont!!!
Vermont is now the first state to legislatively allow for equal marriage. They even overrode Governor Jim Douglas’ veto with a 2/3 vote.
http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=102833098&ft=1&f=1014
Posted on April 7th, 2009 at 2:27 pm
I am extremely happy for the Marriage Rights in Iowa! It caught me at a total surprise! I did not ever think in a million years that IOWA would be the 3rd state to allow gay marriage. I just want to say to all of the people against us…….What matters if we get Married to the same sex, it is not you and never will be. Why on Earth do they care so much, it is our lives and we want to live it the way God made us! He wants us to love differently. Even if they think different, WE know we did not wake up one day and say “Hey lets be gay today!” They need to know that God loves us just as much as he loves them. I am honored to know that I can legally get married. It makes me so excited to know that I don’t have to hide behind curtains anymore and I can be Queer and HERE! LOVE YA!!!! GO GAY MARRIAGE!!!! IOWA RULES!!!!!
Posted on April 8th, 2009 at 4:19 am
I was extremely happy to learn this! It’s great that some states are moving towards equality!
Posted on April 10th, 2009 at 10:51 pm
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