Iowa

Sean Fritz and Tim McQuillan Seal First Same Sex Marriage In Iowa

JanieBelle — Fri, 31 Aug 2007 18:41:59 -0700

Not wasting any time and taking advantage of a $5 waiver of the waiting period in Iowa, Sean Fritz and Tim McQuillan sealed the deal on the front lawn of Unitarian minister Rev. Mark Stringer.

A few hours later, Judge Robert B. Hanson formally stayed yesterday's ruling that the law declaring that valid marriages were only between a man and a woman was unconstitutional, and that the state had no valid interest in arbitrarily discriminating against same-sex couples by denying them the right to marry.

Varnum v. Brien

Elizabeth — Fri, 31 Aug 2007 07:39:50 -0700

The Polk County District Court decision that ruled that Iowa's state law restricting marriage to opposite-sex couples was unconstitutional. Related documents are also listed on the page.

Iowa Court Rules Same Sex Couples Cannot Be Denied Marriage Equality

JanieBelle — Thu, 30 Aug 2007 20:07:12 -0700

Caught this rockin' news just before heading to bed and had to share!

(CNN) -- An Iowa district court ruled Thursday that same-sex couples can marry based on the state constitution's guarantee of equal treatment, court documents show.

The ruling was in response to a December 2005 lawsuit brought by six same-sex couples seeking to wed. They were denied marriage licenses and claimed such treatment violates equal-protection and due-process clauses in the Iowa constitution.

The court also struck down a state law declaring valid marriages are only between a man and woman.