Gay marriages expected to begin in Iowa April 24

[and-justice-for-all]

Source: Associate Press

By AMY LORENTZEN, Associated Press Writer Amy Lorentzen, Associated Press Writer – 1 hr 7 mins ago

DES MOINES, Iowa – Gay marriage, seemingly the providence of the nation's two coasts, is just weeks away from penetrating the heartland and it appears there is nothing social conservatives can do immediately to stop it.

The Iowa Supreme Court on Friday unanimously upheld a lower-court ruling that rejected a state law restricting marriage to a union between a man and woman. Now gays and lesbians may exchange vows as soon as April 24 following the landmark decision.

The county attorney who defended the law said he would not seek a rehearing. The only recourse for opponents appeared to be a constitutional amendment, which couldn't get on the ballot until 2012 at the earliest.

Read more: http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20090404/ap_on_re_us/iowa_gay_marriage

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IOWA?! whatever it takes.

[tomm2thumbs]

1. opponents are trying to make residency a requirement - seems they don't want economic boost

if they don't want an economic windfall from others coming to have weddings in the state, seems like they may as well give back any stimulus money from the federal government as well - some folks never learn that the world is constantly changing and that we aren't all still walking around in pilgrim's clothing and hunting witches

[Ian David]

3. Like being able to get married would be enough to lure gay people to Iowa.

Unless they lived someplace like god-forsaken Kansas.

[Odin2005]

8. Hey, that's a very nasty insult to a good Blue State.

But please, go off om your "all rural folks are trigger-happy bigots" rant. :eyes:

[murielm99]

9. There are too many stereotypes about us Midwesterners.

I live fairly close to the border of Iowa. We own some farm property there, and my youngest went to college there. They have a large number of literate, concerned and open-minded people. They are proud of their status as an early caucus state and the number of influential politicians who visit them because of this. Most Iowans stay well-informed about the issues.

Also, I think the changes will have to come from the seemingly unlikely places before they will stick. Bravo Iowa!

[Omnibus]

11. Hey, there!

Ya better smile when I say that, in a very self-effacing kind of way!

There are some people who meet the stereotype here, but there are surprisingly few of them.

If anything, a lot of gays will say "Thank GOD!" and leave the Mass/Conn postage stamp for a place with fewer guns, and fewer jerks.

[Critters2]

12. Just stay where you are.

I've lived in Massachusetts and in Iowa. I hope to return to the open space and open minds of Iowa.

[TomClash]

13. Actually Iowa is a pretty nice state nt

[and-justice-for-all]

14. I agree...nt

[verdalaven]

2. "Social Conservatives"

Euphemism for "bigot" in MSM.

[xchrom]

4. so i wonder if any conservatives are getting ready to leave the state? nt

[AlbertCat]

5. Yeah! Let'em move to CA....

...where they KNOW the sanctity of their straight marriage is SAFE....like in San Fransisco, CA.

[xchrom]

7. oh we'll make the VERY comfortable here. nt

[LynnTheDem]

6. EQUAL rights, for ALL.

PERIOD.


But IOWA??! Wow. I'm impressed.

[Omnibus]

10. Go Iowa!

For the second time in 5 years, I'm proud to live here!

Our Governor and both houses are Dem controlled, so maybe it'll stick.