DES MOINES, Iowa - The Iowa Supreme Court legalized gay marriage Friday in a unanimous and emphatic decision that makes Iowa the third state — and first in the nation's heartland — to allow same-sex couples to wed.
Iowa joins only Massachusetts and Connecticut in permitting same-sex marriage. For six months last year, California's high court allowed gay marriage before voters banned it in November.
The Iowa justices upheld a lower-court ruling that rejected a state law restricting marriage to a union between a man and woman.
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 could take years to ratify.
"We are firmly convinced the exclusion of gay and lesbian people from the institution of civil marriage does not substantially further any important governmental objective," the Supreme Court wrote.
Iowa lawmakers have "excluded a historically disfavored class of persons from a supremely important civil institution without a constitutionally sufficient justification."
To issue any other decision, the justices said, "would be an abdication of our constitutional duty."
'It's a big win'
The Iowa attorney general's office said gay and lesbian couples can seek marriage licenses starting April 24, once the ruling is considered final.
Above was originally posted in a thread I started in the Ichiban section, which was then censored and moved to Homo Culture (another thread I started, but of completely different items) I think the one who moved it did so because he assumed both "gay", so it wouldn't matter. The Ichiban section, as everyone here knows, is headlines, while Homo Culture was about how the media (TV, radio, movies, etc...) have become more open minded about the gay lifestyle. I am hoping that personal blogs are still allowed to be typed up as the author wishes.
First, I want it known that I am happy to see a new president after 8 years of retard Bush. But, did we really need a whole day of Obama coverage? Show the swearing in, hear his speech, then let those of us that didn't want to go to DC to see it get on with our lives. Do they think he is the new messiah? Are they waiting to photograph him eating supper with his followers? 2 million people were there, why didn't they charge them to stay. $1 per head adn there is $2 million to help our economy. Charge them 2 bucks for water, 4 bucks for an Obama-burger (people are gullible enough to buy anything with his name on it), and we could get our country a good start out of the hole. He was sworn in at noon, so why start covering at 8am? And why show the streets hours after it's over? I fear for the traffic jams, the mess on street, the sewage, the vomit in the streets, violence erupting from drunken brawls, and all the accidents that could happen. Let's all pray that things will get better in government.
I am getting so annoyed at this countdown to the change over to digital. We bought a digital TV almost a year ago. We asked the salesmen if this tv would be 100% compatible with this upcoming change. They said it was totally compatible, so we assumed we had nothing to worry about. I recently bought a converter box for my little TV, but the antenna on my small TV is rabbit ears, so I have little hope for it. Just last month, our local channel did a test for us. I thought I had nothing to worry about. The test showed our "100% compatible" FAILED! I tried tuning in all channels again, and no digital channels could be found. I even tried hooking the converter, no good. Now we are being told that we might need to buy a new deluxe antenna, when we were originally told the current antennae would work with the converters. This is why I am so pissed. The way our economy is, people are cutting their cable and other extras, only to find that they may need to sign up for the satellite to get the local "free" channels, or spend money to buy a deluxe antennae (which, by the way, I bought 2 different ones to try, both failed). Are others having similar problems? I think we should start a boycott and refuse to watch or help out all local channels. If we can get advertisers to see that their products will not be seen by as many, and that it would hurt their money, in turn hurting local channels income, we may get changes made. First, I believe that all converters and items needed to prepare you for this new way should be provided and installed FREE, or have the converters hooked to the main source, so all TV receivers would not need to be redone. If you agree, help me start a boycott. Do not do anything illegal, just let them know we are all pissed off. This is supposed to be "FREE TV".
Posted 12-21-2008 at 03:03 AM byhotshot70 Updated 12-21-2008 at 11:11 AM byBIGA
I do not smoke, but I wish MLC all the best with his cigar group. Here is latest pic of me, and no, that is not a cigar! Its one of those Pirouette cookies from Pepperidge Farms.
[img]http://www.spreadtheiris.com/photopost/data/500/medium/dqsocl.jpg[/img]
I hate my hair. I had cap on all day from the -3 degree weather. My hair is all matted.
There is something out there that has been the largest cause of wars, or disputes in schools, between families, between friends, and other people. That is.... RELIGION! The church wants to tell us how to live and to follow the Bible, an ancient text that is not as accurate as they think. There are places that allow people to have their dogs marry, and they don't think that is an abomination to sanctity of marriage, but gays getting married is a horrible thing. Let's get rid of religion and thing will get better.
