Congratulations Iowa! (Council Bluffs, Colo, Grant: hotels, buy, live)

[PurpleLove08]

Originally Posted by jabogitlu

To the Supreme Court? How? I doubt the NC judiciary would condone anti-rights. As far as the legislature, they are thankfully still Democratically-controlled and with all the new transplants to Asheville (who didn't need any transplants to be liberal, lol), Charlotte, Raleigh, etc, will probably be from now on. North Carolina is a future battleground state for equal rights in marriage in the South, along with Virginia.

As far as Iowa goes, it looks like it is a lot more difficult to amend the constitution in Iowa than California. That's great news for us, even if they were able to target the legislature for passing an equal marriage ban, the earliest it could happen would be 2011 sesion, and hopefully by then the pendulum will have swung a bit further...

I wouldn't hold my breath on Virginia.

[jjbradleynyc]

Congratulations. What a GREAT step in the right direction this ruling is. VERY symbolic in terms of mainstream America. Now, we need a southern state to step up to the plate and lead the way in the south. That'll truly be the day!

[brattpowered]

Yes, congrats to Iowa. It always seems to be the most socially stable, REAL family values states that are the best at living and letting live!

[rb62]

Congratulations Iowa!

[1979]

Saw this historic moment here in Boston. Congratulations on being the 3rd state to recognize same sex marriage!

[cnt]

I'm sorry, Iowa. I know you guys don't overwhelmingly support gay marriage, the state supreme court foisted this one you.

[ScranBarre]

As a rather reserved gay male living in a very socially conservative Northeastern state (no, that is not an oxymoron), seeing a relatively rural and moderate state like Iowa taking this bold step forward for civil equality really puts my mind at ease. Now when my partner and I are ready to finally cement our love for one another we can live in a great place like Dubuque or Iowa City and become active members in the community! I've always admired Iowa from afar, and now I have yet another reason to do so.

I wonder if those who oppose this decision will turn away the increased revenues (including sales tax revenues, hotel tax revenues, etc.) that will accompany the inevitable influx of thousands of same-sex couples into the state for their ceremonies? You have a beautiful state (although I wish there were more pictures of Dubuque on here), and now I know you truly have beautiful people as well! I wish people in Pennsylvania could wake up and smell the coffee! The loud-mouthed and liberal NYC transplants overrunning us couldn't come soon enough for my tastes! LOL!

To the most recent replier, like it or not more states are eventually going to follow suit, so if nothing else Iowa is just "ahead of the curve." My guess would be that the fourth state to legalize same-sex marriage will be Rhode Island (it's surrounded by MA and CT already), and the fifth will likely be California after a mountain of legal hurdles. New Jersey, which has now legalized same-sex civil unions, may be sixth, and New York would likely follow suit as seventh. The next Midwestern state to make this step would probably be Minnesota, as the relatively liberal and open-minded Twin Cities area dominates the rest of the state.

[iowegian]

I could hardly believe it when I heard the decision, but now that it's sunk in, I'm just so proud to live in a state that recognizes equal rights for all people. And to be the third state to do so is an added bonus! Hopefully other states will follow our example and gay rights will finally be recognized across the country. If Iowa can do it, surely every blue state can...

[PurpleLove08]

Originally Posted by ScranBarre

As a rather reserved gay male living in a very socially conservative Northeastern state (no, that is not an oxymoron), seeing a relatively rural and moderate state like Iowa taking this bold step forward for civil equality really puts my mind at ease. Now when my partner and I are ready to finally cement our love for one another we can live in a great place like Dubuque or Iowa City and become active members in the community! I've always admired Iowa from afar, and now I have yet another reason to do so.

I wonder if those who oppose this decision will turn away the increased revenues (including sales tax revenues, hotel tax revenues, etc.) that will accompany the inevitable influx of thousands of same-sex couples into the state for their ceremonies? You have a beautiful state (although I wish there were more pictures of Dubuque on here), and now I know you truly have beautiful people as well! I wish people in Pennsylvania could wake up and smell the coffee! The loud-mouthed and liberal NYC transplants overrunning us couldn't come soon enough for my tastes! LOL!

To the most recent replier, like it or not more states are eventually going to follow suit, so if nothing else Iowa is just "ahead of the curve." My guess would be that the fourth state to legalize same-sex marriage will be Rhode Island (it's surrounded by MA and CT already), and the fifth will likely be California after a mountain of legal hurdles. New Jersey, which has now legalized same-sex civil unions, may be sixth, and New York would likely follow suit as seventh. The next Midwestern state to make this step would probably be Minnesota, as the relatively liberal and open-minded Twin Cities area dominates the rest of the state.

Iowa has always been ahead of the curve it seems:

One Iowa

[ubringliten]

Job well done Iowa. It just shows that Iowans have a sense of humanity. What's up with California?!