Gay marriages expected to begin in Iowa April 24

[TWiley]

By AMY LORENTZEN, Associated Press Writer Amy Lorentzen, Associated Press Writer – 34 mins ago
DES MOINES, Iowa – Gay marriage, seemingly the province of the nation's two coasts, is just weeks away from becoming legal in the heartland and apparently it will be years before social conservatives have a chance 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.

"I would say the mood is one of mourning right now in a lot of ways," said a dejected Bryan English, spokesman for the Iowa Family Policy Center, a conservative group that opposes same-sex marriage.

In the meantime, same-sex marriage opponents may try to enact residency requirements for marriage so that gays and lesbians from across the country could not travel to Iowa to wed.

U.S. Rep. Steve King, R-Iowa, urged the Legislature to do so, saying he feared without residency requirements Iowa would "become the gay marriage mecca."

Only Massachusetts and Connecticut currently permit same-sex marriage. For six months last year, California's high court allowed gay marriage before voters banned it in November.

Full Story: http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20090404/ap_on_re_us/iowa_gay_marriage

What made Iowa receptive enough of this fundamental human rights issue to allow it? As Iowa would not be on the top of most voters list of the most likely states to allow gay marriage, it would seem that their success should be studied deeply and replicated across the country. Why did voters ignore the emotionally charged, and superstitious fears of the faithful to follow a course of reason, common sense, and decency?

[TWiley]

1. Gee, I posted this about 4 hours ago, and not one single reply?

Everyone must be sleeping in ....

[Mari333]

2. Iowa Iowa Iowa! going to be a great day for many. nt

[roody]

3. The marriage opponents don't want all that money flowing

into Iowa from visitors coming to get married. Idiots!

[Echo In Light]

4. K&R