Apr
3
Yes, believe it or not. On the sadly short list of states that allow same-sex marriages – up until today I believe the list included MA, CT and, um, MA – there’s a new one. The most unlikely place north of the Mason-Dixon line that would allow same-sex marriages.
Iowa.
The Iowa Supreme Court, in a unanimous ruling today, said that the state’s ban on same-sex marriage was against the state Constitution.
UPDATE: There might be 4 states on that list soon: Vermont.
The court ruling backed a decision by a lower court that had ruled six same-sex couples were wrongly denied marriage licenses by an official in Polk County. Except for the law defining marriage as a union between a man and a woman, the six Iowa couples met the legal requirements to marry, the court said. Justices were forced to overturn that law if it violated the state constitution, “even though it may be supported by strong and deep-seated traditional beliefs and popular opinion,” according to a summary of the decision.
Also interesting to note is that Iowa doesn’t have a residency requirement for marriage in their state. Hmm…
Big thanks to The Bilerico Project and Pam’s House Blend – I can’t remember which one I saw first this morning, so I’ll just say both.
I’m from Iowa… and you’re welcome, world, lol.
The other interesting thing about this is the amendment process, which is tougher than California.
Iowa (which has only a part-time legislature) requires passage in BOTH houses in two CONSECUTIVE sessions before there can be a popular vote. This is the same as Massachusetts, which although the House there occasionally gets an amendment through, always stalls it in committee or falls short in the vote.
I have home for this… and if it can be sustained in the central Midwest, there is hope for eventual federal recognition.
*tight hugs*
Hamster Kitten: Yep, you and MamaB! Good on ‘ya!
Deb: Yeah, somebody else mentioned that it’d take until 2011 to actually reverse this – now I see what she meant. Got lots of things crossed for this. *tight hugs*