I lived in Iowa for 6 years, and really enjoyed it. Iowa City and the University of Iowa were always open for a challenge, and they really did a lot to dispel farm-redneck myths. I have always believed Iowans thought that what people did with their own lives, so long as it was consented to by all parties, was their own business in their own homes.
I am proud of my one time state, and hopeful for peaceful celebrations!
Go Hawkeyes!
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Historic Victory for Marriage Equality in Iowa!
High Court clears the way for committed gay and lesbian couples to marry
Today the Iowa Supreme Court ruled in a unanimous decision that committed gay and lesbian couples must be allowed to marry in Iowa. Join us this evening at your local rally to celebrate this momentous decision! Rally times can be found below, following a statement from One Iowa Executive Director, Carolyn Jenison.
Statement from Carolyn Jenison:
I want to begin by saying how great it is to be an Iowan! Today, the Heartland proves again to be fitting of its name. The Iowa Supreme Court, in clearing the way for gay and lesbian couples to marry, recognized that love and commitment are at the heart of what makes our communities strong. As Iowans, we pride ourselves on our strong sense of community and fairness. It's only fair that two caring, committed people are able to take full responsibility for one another.
I grew up in the small town of Randall, Iowa. Like most kids, I had the same expectation of meeting that special someone to share the rest of my life with. More than the legal protections and security of marriage, today's decision is about recognizing that love and commitment are not defined by the gender of the participants involved. It's about couples like David and Larry from Urbandale or Reva and Ingrid from Council Bluffs -- couples that have stuck together through thick and thin, who have raised strong families, and been active in their communities. Today, the message the Court sends is that these families are worthy of the same recognition and hold the same value as any other couple.
As a lifelong Iowan, I have never been as proud of my state as I am today! Not only will we join Connecticut and Massachusetts as the third state to offer marriage licenses to gay couples, but Iowa will set the standard for fairness and equality in the Midwest. I encourage all Iowans, whether you agree with the Court's decision or not, to respect the important role that the court plays. While we may not all agree with the decision, I think we can all agree that it's unfair to stand in the way of someone being able to take care of his or her long-term partner. I invite those who disagree to engage with us in a conversation. I encourage you to visit our website at oneiowa.org to read the personal stories of Iowans affected by today's decision. Moving forward, One Iowa will work tirelessly to see that marriage equality in Iowa is protected and valued with the same vigor that we pursued it.
I want to thank our wonderful partners at Lambda Legal for bringing this case before the Courts and all our supporters across the state. We would not be here today without your support and guidance. I also want to thank my staff at One Iowa. Our slogan is "together we are One Iowa" and I know our success is due in large part because of our commitment to work as a team.
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