Iowa Court Says Gay Marriage Ban Unconstitutional

Iowa Supreme Court says state's same-sex marriage ban violates gays' constitutional rights

By AMY LORENTZEN
The Associated Press

DES MOINES, Iowa

The Iowa Supreme Court issued a unanimous ruling Friday finding that the state's same-sex marriage ban violates the constitutional rights of gay and lesbian couples, making Iowa the third state where marriage will be legal.

In its decision, the court upheld a 2007 district court judge's ruling that the law violates the state constitution. It strikes the language from Iowa code limiting marriage to only between a man a woman.

"The court reaffirmed that a statute inconsistent with the Iowa constitution must be declared void even though it may be supported by strong and deep-seated traditional beliefs and popular opinion," said a summary of the ruling issued by the court.

The ruling set off celebration among the state's gay-marriage proponents.

"Iowa is about justice, and that's what happened here today," said Laura Fefchak, who was hosting a verdict party in the Des Moines suburb of Urbandale with partner of 13 years, Nancy Robinson.

Robinson added: "To tell the truth, I didn't think I'd see this day."

Richard Socarides, an attorney and former senior adviser on gay rights to President Clinton, said the ruling carries extra significance coming from Iowa.

"It's a big win because, coming from Iowa, it represents the mainstreaming of gay marriage. And it shows that despite attempts stop gay marriage through right wing ballot initiatives, like in California, the courts will continue to support the case for equal rights for gays," he said.

Court rules dictate that the decision will take about 21 days to be considered final, and a request for a rehearing could be filed within that period. That means it will be at least several weeks before gay and lesbian couples can seek marriage licenses.

Polk County Attorney John Sarcone said the county attorney's office will not ask for a rehearing, meaning the court's decision should take effect after that three-week period.

The case has been working its way through Iowa's court system since 2005 when Lambda Legal, a New York-based gay rights organization, filed a lawsuit on behalf of six gay and lesbian Iowa couples who were denied marriage licenses. Some of their children are also listed as plaintiffs.

The suit named then-Polk County recorder and registrar Timothy Brien.

The state Supreme Court's ruling upheld an August 2007 decision by Polk County District Court Judge Robert Hanson, who found that a state law allowing marriage only between a man and a woman violates the constitutional rights of equal protection.

The Polk County attorney's office, arguing on behalf of Brien, claimed that Hanson's ruling violates the separation of powers and said the issue should be left to the Legislature.

Lambda Legal scheduled a news conference for early Friday to comment on the ruling. A request for comment from the Polk County attorney's office wasn't immediately returned.

Around the nation, only Massachusetts and Connecticut permit same-sex marriage. California, which briefly allowed gay marriage before a voter initiative in November repealed it, allows domestic partnerships.

New Jersey and New Hampshire also offer civil unions, which provide many of the same rights that come with marriage. New York recognizes same-sex marriages performed elsewhere, and legislators there and in New Jersey are weighing whether to offer marriage. A bill that would legalize same-sex marriage in Vermont has cleared the Legislature but may be vetoed by the governor.

The ruling in Iowa's same-sex marriage case came more quickly than many observers had anticipated, with some speculating after oral arguments that it could take a year or more for a decision.

An iPhone Application to help us shop with Gay Rights in mind!

CLICK HERE to get the newest iPhone application, ePride Guide!

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For Immediate Release:
Indigo 501 Unveils "ePrideGuide"
April 2, 2009

Activism and iPhones Unite!

Indigo 501 Creative today announced the launch of "ePride Guide," a shopping guide application for users of iPhone and iPod mobile devices. ePride Guide brings a rating system of your national AND local businesses so that you can spend your money wisely when it comes to LGBT Equal Rights.

"A lot of us want to do our part for the equality cause but don't have time to volunteer." says Indigo 501 President Sue Hoffman. "What could be easier than being wiser about where I spend my money. Think how great it will, be when on the way out to dinner, to find restaurants that back LGBT equality before you select where to eat."

"You can select National or pick your State and City for local results,"says Sue. "the ratings are provided by that state’s gay rights organization."

Future editions of ePride Guide will a feature a feedback function to capture even more data from the public on their favorite businesses. "Our developers are
planning some cool enhancements," says Sue, "including a search that finds businesses near you." ePride Guide is available for download ($1.99) at the iTunes App store. Or visit eprideguide.com for more information.

About Indigo 501 Creative
Indigo (www.indigo501.com) is a marketing firm specializing with nonprofit organizations and GLBT equality. Through selective partnerships with leading interactive companies, such as Extend Interactive (www.ExtendInteractive.com) and WebKat (www.web-kat.com) we have been able to develop this powerful advocacy tool.

made me laugh

Is Vermont next?

Hearings opened yesterday in Vermont for same-sex marriage
Filed by: Alex Blaze
March 17, 2009 12:00 PM
n 2000, Vermont created civil unions for same-sex couples with all the state-level rights of marriage in order to avoid letting same-sex couples marry, as their supreme court ordered. Yesterday, they opened hearings on same-sex marriage in the state legislature.

You can watch the hearings over on Vermont Freedom to Marry's website. (read)

Everything I know, I learned from my dogs

I have 2 dogs.. Lucy and Scout.

Lucy is big and old. Scout is young and small. (Both Australian Shepards)

I took them for a ride with me today on a FEDEX run. As usual, Lucy lays down in the back, not really looking out the window, just being patient until we get to where we are going.

Scout stands on the arm rest in the front, her head leaning forward like a hood ornament... watching everything. She looks at the cars, the traffic, the people, everything!! WHAT FUN all this new stuff to see. 

And it occurred to me, this is life. We can enjoy the journey, not knowing where or if we'll get any where. Or we can be focused on waiting til we get somewhere to have our fun and start living.  That perfect job, body, salary, house, lover, kids, grown kids,.. if I could just make it to...X, then I could relax and live and start my real life.

Today, we're not going to the park or to doggy daycare or the vet or anywhere fun.. just a car ride and then back home... and while Scout will have had a grand adventure, Lucy will think, "what the hell? we're just back home?"

Defining Our Terms: Bashing.

Please take a moment to watch this:

Two Oscars for MILK - Writing and Sean Penn

Great Speeches Below:

Suze Orman's Valentine Wish!

Gay Argentine - check out this beer commercial!

Things I've learned from the recent ICE storm.

We had a hurricane of an ice storm recently. Trees down, Power Out, Big Mess. Here are some things I've learned from the experience.

1.  Ice can break trees like I never imagined. 

2. Kitty litter on ice instead of salt seems like a good idea at the time, but turns into a muddy mess later.

3. Having a slumber party of friends when they are all adults and out of power isn't as fun as it sounds.

4. Wood burning fireplaces are gold.

5. Underground power lines and internet lines saved by business, big time.

6. Dogs love snow. Ice, not so much.

7. Muddy paws and wood floors do not mix.

8. Kentucky takes weeks to restore power, don't live there.

9. You can't land a plane if it's too windy.

10. Sometimes, a neighbor who will give you a push is all that is needed.

I love Rachel Maddow. Republicans: Get out of the way!

Rachel says my feelings on this perfectly.

Yes, I'm a nerd

Super Bowl Ads- See I'm not THIS bad.

Visit msnbc.com for Breaking News, World News, and News about the Economy

President Obama Wears Bullet-Resistant Suit at Inaugural

By Jose Fermoso  January 21, 2009 | wired.com

Barack Obama had more than the Presidential 'beast' limo taking care of his safety yesterday.

According to some reports, he wore a suit made by a clothier specializing in bullet-resistant clothing during the inauguration ceremonies.

While no one from the U.S. Secret Service have yet to mention any details about the garment's structure, some are speculating it may have come from the line by Colombian designer Miguel Caballero. As we noted last year, Caballero is well known for his super tough but flexible and business appropriate clothing (see pic at right), such as the $7,500 polo shirt that can stop a shot from a 9-mm revolver.

Due to some of the unfortunately rising levels of dangerous conflicts in Colombia and other parts of Latin America, the need for this type of clothing has also led to a spike in sales.

According to Caballero, many of his garments offer more thanthree levels of ballistic protection and they are about seven times more flexible than the Kevlar vests that are usually worn. Designers that use Kevlar tie together dense strands of the material (500 to 1,500 filaments per strand of yarn, according to Slate), which is then weaved into the clothing.

With close to 2 million people on hand to watch the president-elect take the Oath of Office, the level of security was understandably tight and every precaution was taken to ensure safety for all.

Earlier this month, we noted that President Obama will be using the safest Presidential limo ever built, the so-called Cadillac One (or simply, "The Beast"), whose toughness rivals a tank and seals off like a bank vault in the event of a potential attack.

A recap of the day

Goodbye to our in-articulate president. It will be nice to have one that can speak now.

Gene Robinson: Gay Bishop Giving Obama Inauguration Prayer

New Hampshire Episcopal Bishop Gene Robinson, a vocal gay rights leader, will open President-elect Barack Obama's inauguration with a prayer on Sunday's kick-off event at the Lincoln Memorial.

"I am writing to tell you that President-Elect Obama and the Inaugural Committee have invited me to give the invocation at the opening event of the Inaugural Week activities, We are One, to be held at the Lincoln Memorial," Robinson wrote in an email to friends.

The announcement comes after weeks of outcry from the gay community over Obama's choice of evangelical, anti-gay pastor Rick Warren to deliver the inaugural invocation.

"It's important for any minority to see themselves represented in some way," Robinsonsaid in an interview with the Concord Monitor. "Whether it be a racial minority, an ethnic minority or, in our case, a sexual minority. Just seeing someone like you up front matters."

Robinson is the first openly gay diocesan bishop in the Anglican Communion. "God never gets it wrong. The church often takes a long time to get it right. It is a human institution, but one capable of self-correction," Robinson told the Seattle Post-Intelligencer. "I believe in my heart that the church got it wrong about homosexuality. There is great excitement in my heart to be living in a time when the church is starting to get it right."

Robinson said he would love to sit down with Rick Warren but believed that the California pastor has "perpetrated lies about the gay, lesbian and bisexual community."

Go Tina

The OTHER MALL: Every town has one. Including ours. Funny

Equality Matters - Join the March

In 2004, the Government Accounting Office identified 1,138 federal laws in which marital status is a factor in determining or receiving benefits, rights, and privileges.

It's time to educate Americans about what the word 'marriage' really means and talk about the critical rights being denied LGBT couples. Tax fairness. Hospital visitation. Government benefits. Medical decision-making. Exemption from estate taxes. Spousal immigration.

Click here to learn more