Love conquers all, regardless of gender
Posted on Apr 19, 2008 at 04:01 pm
Tuscon Citizen
April 19, 2008
Rekha Basu emotionally recounts her attendance at a wedding of a same-sex couple saying, “Love is full of surprises: intimacy and distance, control and vulnerability, security and jealousy. But sometimes the surprise is to the outside observer.” [Link]
April 19, 2008
Rekha Basu emotionally recounts her attendance at a wedding of a same-sex couple saying, “Love is full of surprises: intimacy and distance, control and vulnerability, security and jealousy. But sometimes the surprise is to the outside observer.” [Link]
Study says marriage equality would boost Iowa’s economy
Posted on Apr 17, 2008 at 04:07 pm
Quad-City Times
April 17, 2008
A UCLA study says ending the exclusion of same-sex couples from marriage in Iowa would be a boon to the state economy. [Link]
April 17, 2008
A UCLA study says ending the exclusion of same-sex couples from marriage in Iowa would be a boon to the state economy. [Link]
Politicians and church leaders back marriage equality in Iowa
Posted on Mar 28, 2008 at 04:10 pm
Pink News
March 28, 2008
The fight for equality continues in the heart of rural America this week, as the Iowa Supreme Court considers a lawsuit brought by six same-sex couples denied marriage licences in the state. Senior attorneys from Lambda Legal, joined by former Iowa solicitor general Dennis Johnson, will argue that denying marriage to same-sex couples violates the equal protection and due process guarantees in the state's Constitution…At least 17 briefs will be filed with the Iowa Supreme Court by a wide array of local and national organizations and individuals on behalf of the six same-sex couples and their families. Supporters include doctors, social workers, scientists, historians and more than 200 clergymen and other faith leaders. [Link]
March 28, 2008
The fight for equality continues in the heart of rural America this week, as the Iowa Supreme Court considers a lawsuit brought by six same-sex couples denied marriage licences in the state. Senior attorneys from Lambda Legal, joined by former Iowa solicitor general Dennis Johnson, will argue that denying marriage to same-sex couples violates the equal protection and due process guarantees in the state's Constitution…At least 17 briefs will be filed with the Iowa Supreme Court by a wide array of local and national organizations and individuals on behalf of the six same-sex couples and their families. Supporters include doctors, social workers, scientists, historians and more than 200 clergymen and other faith leaders. [Link]
Former Iowa Lt Govs Support Marriage Equality Case
Posted on Mar 28, 2008 at 04:09 pm
365Gay.com
March 28, 2008
Two former Iowa Lieutenant Governors, one a Republican the other a Democrat, submitted a brief Friday to the state Supreme Court arguing that the court, not the legislature or voters, is the place to decide the constitutionality of marriage equality. "We are proud of Iowa's long history in ensuring fairness and equality for all Iowans," said former Lt. Govs. Joy Corning (R) and Sally Pederson (D) in a joint statement. [Link]
March 28, 2008
Two former Iowa Lieutenant Governors, one a Republican the other a Democrat, submitted a brief Friday to the state Supreme Court arguing that the court, not the legislature or voters, is the place to decide the constitutionality of marriage equality. "We are proud of Iowa's long history in ensuring fairness and equality for all Iowans," said former Lt. Govs. Joy Corning (R) and Sally Pederson (D) in a joint statement. [Link]
Iowa Politicos Sue to Overturn Marriage Equality Ruling
Posted on Jan 31, 2008 at 04:12 pm
The Advocate
January 31, 2008
Five Republican lawmakers in Iowa have filed court documents urging the state supreme court to overturn a Polk County judge's decision that struck down a marriage discrimination law. [Link]
January 31, 2008
Five Republican lawmakers in Iowa have filed court documents urging the state supreme court to overturn a Polk County judge's decision that struck down a marriage discrimination law. [Link]
Pair reflect on months as married couple
Posted on Jan 20, 2008 at 04:15 pm
Des Moines Register
January 20, 2008
"I now realize how important marriage is," Sean said. "I've (known I am) gay since I was a teenager. Gay marriage was always something that's going to happen in the future, but I couldn't go get one, so it wasn't on the table. All the sudden it was on the table. And I got one. I was like, whoa, I really wanted this the whole time, and I was ready for it, and I just told myself I wasn't because it wasn't feasible." [Link]
January 20, 2008
"I now realize how important marriage is," Sean said. "I've (known I am) gay since I was a teenager. Gay marriage was always something that's going to happen in the future, but I couldn't go get one, so it wasn't on the table. All the sudden it was on the table. And I got one. I was like, whoa, I really wanted this the whole time, and I was ready for it, and I just told myself I wasn't because it wasn't feasible." [Link]
Here comes the judge
Posted on Sep 07, 2007 at 04:19 pm
Pride Source
September 6, 2007
IA Judge Hanson spelled out clearly that there are not shades of equality under the constitution. Either you are equal, or you are not. The institution of marriage, Hanson wrote, is "so woven into the fabric of daily life and so determinative of legal rights and status" that denial of a marriage license "amounts to a badge of inferiority" imposed on gay couples and their children. [Link]
September 6, 2007
IA Judge Hanson spelled out clearly that there are not shades of equality under the constitution. Either you are equal, or you are not. The institution of marriage, Hanson wrote, is "so woven into the fabric of daily life and so determinative of legal rights and status" that denial of a marriage license "amounts to a badge of inferiority" imposed on gay couples and their children. [Link]
BLOG: Activist judge enforces Constitution
Posted on Sep 03, 2007 at 04:21 pm
Subject to Complete Defeasance
September 3, 2007
In this case, the judge noted that U.S. Supreme Court and Iowa Supreme Court have deemed marriage a fundamental right. On that basis he applied strict scrutiny and shot down the law because the purported state interests — (1) promoting procreation, (2) promoting child-rearing in a mother-father setting, (3) promoting stability in opposite-sex relationships, (4) conserving public and private resources, and (5) "promoting the concept or integrity of traditional marriage" — are not compelling. In addition, the means of promoting those interest, namely a total ban on same-sex marriages, isn't narrowly tailored to produce those results. For instance, the defense never managed to articulate exactly how precluding gays from marrying promotes procreation. [Link]
September 3, 2007
In this case, the judge noted that U.S. Supreme Court and Iowa Supreme Court have deemed marriage a fundamental right. On that basis he applied strict scrutiny and shot down the law because the purported state interests — (1) promoting procreation, (2) promoting child-rearing in a mother-father setting, (3) promoting stability in opposite-sex relationships, (4) conserving public and private resources, and (5) "promoting the concept or integrity of traditional marriage" — are not compelling. In addition, the means of promoting those interest, namely a total ban on same-sex marriages, isn't narrowly tailored to produce those results. For instance, the defense never managed to articulate exactly how precluding gays from marrying promotes procreation. [Link]
OPINION: When judges rule, politicians drool
Posted on Sep 02, 2007 at 04:24 pm
Mason City Globe Gazette
September 2, 2007
Hanson ruled that a law designed to marginalize a certain group of citizens has no place on the books. The Iowa Supreme Court may overrule him, but that message isn't going away. Fairness still means something, even in a country painted in dark shades of red and blue. Like it or not, history is on a long and arduous but constant arc toward greater acceptance and tolerance. You can slow it down, but you can't stop it. [Link]
September 2, 2007
Hanson ruled that a law designed to marginalize a certain group of citizens has no place on the books. The Iowa Supreme Court may overrule him, but that message isn't going away. Fairness still means something, even in a country painted in dark shades of red and blue. Like it or not, history is on a long and arduous but constant arc toward greater acceptance and tolerance. You can slow it down, but you can't stop it. [Link]
Marriage victory in IA district court
Posted on Aug 30, 2007 at 04:26 pm
Gay City News
August 30, 2007
This article provides a good summary of the Iowa decision. From a legal perspective, the critical portion of the opinion is the judge's explanation of why the record compels the conclusion that the state's anti-gay Defense of Marriage Act (DOMA) is unconstitutional. He accepts the argument that the relevant issue under the state Constitution from a due process perspective is not whether 'gay marriage' is a fundamental right, but rather whether same-sex couples have the right to marry, since the right to marry is in itself a fundamental right. [Link]
August 30, 2007
This article provides a good summary of the Iowa decision. From a legal perspective, the critical portion of the opinion is the judge's explanation of why the record compels the conclusion that the state's anti-gay Defense of Marriage Act (DOMA) is unconstitutional. He accepts the argument that the relevant issue under the state Constitution from a due process perspective is not whether 'gay marriage' is a fundamental right, but rather whether same-sex couples have the right to marry, since the right to marry is in itself a fundamental right. [Link]