Earlier this month we learned the amazing news that the Iowa Supreme Court has ruled that the ban on same-sex marriage is unconstitutional in the State of Iowa, making Iowa one of 3 US States to allow same-sex marriage. Today is the first day that same-sex couples are allowed to apply for marriage licenses in Iowa which means that today the State is taking a huge step forward towards marriage equality in this country:

Same-sex couples have begun filing for marriage licenses in the state of Iowa after the state’s Supreme Court legalized gay marriage. Two Lincoln, Neb., women were first in line at the Pottawattamie County Recorder’s office in Council Bluffs to apply for their license. Sarah Fentress and Bambi Smith have been friends for 20 years. Both women said it’s hard to put into words what this day means to them. “It’s just about us and that we can be a complete family,” Fentress said. Six couples were waiting outside the Courthouse before the doors opened Monday morning. Same-sex weddings could take place Monday if couples can secure waivers from judges that let them bypass Iowa’s three-day waiting period. One couple in Des Moines did get a waiver shortly after their license was issued. The Iowa Supreme Court’s unanimous April 3 decision makes Iowa the third state to allow same-sex marriage.

The New York Times published a story yesterday about same-sex marriage coming to Iowa which, it turns out, isn’t really that big of a deal to the people who live there:

Many people, even some who live here, cannot mesh their plain-Jane image of Iowa, a state that sits so sturdily in the middle, with the front lines of the same-sex marriage debate. “To be honest, I would rather not have it in Iowa,” said Shirley Cox, who has spent most of her 84 years in this old railroad town. Ms. Cox said she had always been proud to tell people what state she was from, but now was not so sure. “But the thing is,” she went on, “it’s really none of my business. Who am I to tell someone how to live? I live the way I want, and they should live the way they want. I’m surely not going to stomp and raise heck and campaign against it.” This reluctance to interlope in the lives of one’s neighbors — “a very Iowa attitude,” in the words of one local political scientist, derived in part from the state’s rural heritage — may help explain how Iowa finds itself in this moment. Add to that individualistic sensibility the state’s current political alignment and its little-known, pioneering legal past on once similarly volatile questions, like segregation and the role of women, and suddenly it seems far less surprising to outsiders that this could happen here in the seemingly endless, rolling acres of cornfields. “People may think of us some other way,” said Paul Lasley, a sociologist at Iowa State University, “but in the main, it is tolerance — not always support, but tolerance — that has really been the weave and warp of Iowa culture. Understanding the culture of Iowa is understanding that many of us are descendants of people who were once denied liberties in their home countries.” This month, the Iowa Supreme Court found a state law banning same-sex marriage to be a violation of the state Constitution, in essence deeming the practice legal, as of this week. Iowa will be one of three states, and the only one far from the coasts, to allow the marriages. (A fourth state, Vermont, will permit same-sex marriages come September. California did, briefly, until voters rejected the practice in November.) In Des Moines, the state capital, observers of the court said the unanimous decision surprised them. Mark S. Kende, a law professor at Drake University, said he had viewed these justices as “more a lawyerly court than left-leaning or willing to stick its neck out on something like this.” Five of the justices were appointed by Democratic governors; the remaining two, including the author of the opinion, Justice Mark S. Cady, were chosen by a Republican. “One doesn’t want to psychoanalyze the court,” Mr. Kende said, “but you can see how they drew on the heritage of Iowa in the area of equality and seemed to see their own decision in that context.”

I, too, was very surprised to learn that Iowa has decided to allow same-sex marriage but in the context of the history of the State, it does make sense. I believe Iowa was one of the first States to strike down the ban on interracial marriage. The idea of live and let live seems to me to be a very American ideal, one that many people seem to forget. I’m pleased to know that the great State of Iowa holds true to its ideals even in the face of huge change. Here is a list of requirements for same-sex couples to marry in Iowa:

Marriage requirements: Two people, over 18, not already legally married, not closely related and legally competent to enter into a civil contract.

For a divorce, one party must have been a resident of Iowa for at least one year.

HMMM … sounds a lot like the requirements for heterosexual couples to marry as well. Kudos to Iowa for advancing the cause of marriage equality while other States disappointingly fall behind. The rest of the US will catch up with you Iowa, it’ll just take some time.

[Source, Source, Source]

For the second time in just under one week’s time a State here in the US has legalized same-sex marriage!!! Vermont has just become the 4th State in the US (5th if you count California) to legalize same-sex marriage after the State legislature has voted to overturn the veto by Governor Jim Douglas who publicly opposed the legislature’s ratification of the law. After both houses of the Vermont State legislature voted to allow same-sex marriage in their State last week (an upgrade from the civil unions they already had in place for same-sex couples), Governor Douglas decided to veto that law (his belief is that civil unions are “good enough” for same-sex couples). In the wake of his decision to veto, the legislature has *just* voted to overturn his decision … making same-sex marriage legal in their State!!!!!

Vermont has become the fourth state to legalize gay marriage — and the first to do so with a legislature’s vote. The Legislature voted Tuesday to override Gov. Jim Douglas’ veto of a bill allowing gays and lesbians to marry. The vote was 23-5 to override in the state Senate and 100-49 to override in the House. Under Vermont law, two-thirds of each chamber had to vote for override. The vote came nine years after Vermont adopted its first-in-the-nation civil unions law. It’s now the fourth state to permit same-sex marriage. Massachusetts, Connecticut and Iowa are the others. Their approval of gay marriage came from the courts.

This is such amazing news!!! Not only are the winds of change blowing across our great nation but it seems to have turned into a bit of a tidal wave of change. Unlike other States which legalized same-sex marriage in the courts, Vermont has legalized same-sex marriage in the legislature … which is a hugely significant difference. As you may recall, just last week we learned that Iowa became the 4th State to legalize same-sex marriage here in the US and now Vermont joins the ranks of the States who have decided that marriage equality should be afforded to all. To clarify, altho Vermont is the 5th State to legalize same-sex marriage (California was among those States) there are only 4 States out of 50 that currently allow the practice legally. I must admit, my fear was that the Vermont State legislature would not be able to come up with the votes needed to overturn the governor’s veto … I’m so ecstatic that I was wrong! As you may painfully recall, California’s legalization of same-sex marriage was overturned in last November’s election. While we suffered a major setback here in California, this latest ratification in Vermont to allow same-sex couples the same rights and privileges as heterosexual couples pushes our country closer to truly allowing freedom and justice for its citizens. On behalf of the rest of the country that still waits for marriage equality to be enacted for all, I salute and send my heartfelt thanks to the people of Vermont for their efforts today. They join the ranks of the other pioneering States (including Massachusetts, Connecticut and Iowa) who recognize that all couples in the US of A deserve access to marriage equality! What another wonderful, wonderful day!!!

[Source, thanks Amanda]

Amazing news to report from the very heart of the United States of America … the Supreme Court of Iowa (which is smack dab right in the middle of the US of A) has ruled today — in a completely unanimous decision — that the ban on same-sex marriage in their State is UNCONSTITUTIONAL paving the way for same-sex marriage to become legal in Iowa! Same-sex marriage will legally be allowed to take place in the State of Iowa in 3 weeks time, which makes Iowa the 3rd state in the US to legalize same-sex marriage (4th if you count California). What is most surprising to me is that Iowa is the first State in the Midwest (near the Bible Belt, y’all!) that has taken this huge step forward for marriage equality. What a happy, happy day!

The Iowa Supreme Court this morning unanimously upheld gays’ right to marry. “The Iowa statute limiting civil marriage to a union between a man and a woman violates the equal protection clause of the Iowa Constitution,” the justices said in a summary of their decision. The court rules that gay marriage would be legal in three weeks, starting April 24. The court affirmed a Polk County District Court decision that would allow six gay couples to marry. The ruling is viewed as a victory for the gay rights movement in Iowa and elsewhere, and a setback for social conservatives who wanted to protect traditional families. The decision makes Iowa the first Midwestern state, and the fourth nationwide, to allow same-sex marriages. Lawyers for Lambda Legal, a gay rights group that financed the court battle and represented the couples, had hoped to use a court victory to demonstrate acceptance of same-sex marriage in heartland America. The Iowa Supreme Court’s Web site was deluged with more than 350,000 visitors this morning, in anticipation of the ruling, a Judicial Branch spokesman said this morning. Steve Davis, a court spokesman, said administrators added extra computer servers to handle the expected increase in Web traffic. But “this is unprecedented,” Davis said. Richard Socarides, a former senior adviser to President Bill Clinton on gay civil rights, said today’s decision could set the stage for other states. Socarides was was a senior political assistant for Iowa Sen. Tom Harkin in the early 1990s. “I think it’s significant because Iowa is considered a Midwest sate in the mainstream of American thought,” Socarides said. “Unlike states on the coasts, there’s nothing more American than Iowa. As they say during the presidential caucuses, ‘As Iowa goes, so goes the nation.’” Democratic Sen. Bill Dotzler of Waterloo said he hopes people treat each other with respect today. “Everyone just needs to remain calm,” he said. “We need to analyze the decision. By giving a unanimous decision it seems to me the court really thinks it’s an issue of rights. It will be up to the legislature to look at their ruling and see how we’re going to proceed” … Gov. Chet Culver, a Democrat, e-mailed his response to reporters: “The decision released this morning by Supreme Court addresses a complicated and emotional issue, one on which Iowans have strong views and opinions on both sides. The next responsible step is to thoroughly review this decision, which I am doing with my legal counsel and the attorney general, before reacting to what it means for Iowa.” Senate Republican Leader Paul McKinley (R-Chariton) issued the following statement this morning in response to the Iowa Supreme Court’s decision to allow gay marriage in Iowa: “The decision made by the Iowa Supreme Court today to allow gay marriage in Iowa is disappointing on many levels. I believe marriage should only be between one man and one woman and I am confident the majority of Iowans want traditional marriage to be legally recognized in this state. Though the court has made their decision, I believe every Iowan should have a voice on this matter and that is why the Iowa Legislature should immediately act to pass a Constitutional Amendment that protects traditional marriage, keeps it as a sacred bond only between one man and one woman and gives every Iowan a chance to have their say through a vote of the people.” “I’m off the wall,” said Democratic Sen. Matt McCoy of Des Moines, who is openly gay. “I’m very pleased to be an Iowan” … Until today, Iowa law said marriage could only be between one man and one woman. The case, Varnum vs. Brien, involves six same-sex Iowa couples who sued Polk County Recorder Timothy Brien in 2005 after his office denied them marriage licenses. Polk County District Judge Robert Hanson sided with the couples last year but then suspended his decision pending a high court ruling.

OH.MY.GAWD! I am utterly and completely shocked … and elated. This proves that the unfair practice of discriminating against same-sex marriage does not have a strong foothold anywhere in our great country anymore. That this ruling could come from the heartland of the United States of America shows that marriage equality for all will become a reality soon. Altho our Nation is still quite a ways from allowing same-sex marriage to all citizens of the US, this ruling in Iowa is a HUGE leap forward in achieving equality for all. By handing down a unanimous decision, the Supreme Court of Iowa is sending a clear message that banning same-sex marriage is wrong and cannot be tolerated anywhere in our great Nation. I am just … thrilled beyond words. Click HERE to read a summary of the Iowan Supreme Court ruling or click HERE to read the opinion in full. Woot!!! Well done Iowa, you’ve done your Country a great service today!

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Protest rallies against the passage of Proposition 8, which legalized marriage discrimination in the State of California, have taken place every day since Election Day last week and will continue this week and in the weeks after. A few Pink readers who live outside of California have been asking for information regarding what can be done in their parts of the country to make their voices heard as well. I am happy to report that Join the Impact is organizing a National Day of Protest against the passage of Proposition 8 here in California and FOR THE NEED of marriage equality in this country as a whole. Here is the flyer that is being distributed (which can be downloaded HERE) by organizers who are asking that YOU put up in your cities to alert people of the protest:

You can find more information at jointheimpact.com about the National Day of Protest. For folks here in SoCal, you can click HERE to see an updated list of the protest rallies that are being planned for the coming week. Additionally, repealh8.org is a site that has been set up to update the ongoing plans for overturning the passage of Prop 8 here in California.

Because I will be in Grand Rapids, MI on Saturday November 15, I’m not sure if I will be able to make it out to the Michigan rally that is scheduled to take place in Detroit but YOU can click HERE to see a list of locations where the rallies will take place in your States on the 15th. The passage of Prop 8 here in California (and similar propositions in Florida, Arizona and Arkansas) does not just impact the citizens of those States — nor does it merely impact the lives of the GLBT community — its passage is an affront to Liberty and Justice For All in this country and threatens to undermine the very things that this country stands for. I feel it is very important to stand up for marriage equality in this country. Like so many times before in our nation’s history, the people are being called upon to oppose injustice and discrimination in this country. While we have made great strides in other areas, there is still much work to be done.

Last night thousands of protesters took to the streets of LA and Sacramento, CA (among other cities) to protest the passing of California Proposal 8. My friends and I joined the folks in West Hollywood while Pink reader Courtney participated with her friends in Sacramento. This fight for equal rights is not going to end any time soon. While the US made great strides in Tuesday’s election of Barack Obama as our new President, the passing of proposals in California, Arizona, Arkansas and Florida to strip away the rights of the GLBT community shows how much work we have yet to do in order to create a more perfect union and offer liberty and justice for all Americans. Here are some of photos my friends and I took at last night’s protest rally in West Hollywood:

Three groups have petitioned the California Supreme Court challenging the passage of Proposition 8, contending the ballot initiative banning gay and lesbian marriages was “improperly used.” Californians passed the measure 52.5 percent to 47.5 percent in Tuesday’s general election, countering a state Supreme Court ruling in May that said the state constitution guarantees gay and lesbian couples the right to marry. Passage of Proposition 8 sent protesters into the streets of Los Angeles on Wednesday. The three groups are asking for an immediate stay or an injunction to prevent the initiative from taking effect. They said “such radical changes” as outlawing gay marriage cannot be made by ballot initiative, but must, “at a minimum, go through the state legislature first.” The American Civil Liberties Union, Lambda Legal and the National Center for Lesbian Rights argued in papers filed with the high court that the ballot initiative process “was improperly used in an attempt to undo the constitution’s core commitment to equality for everyone.” It did that “by eliminating a fundamental right from just one group — lesbian and gay Californians,” the groups said in a written statement. The organizations filed the legal challenges on behalf of Equality California and six same-sex couples who did not marry before Tuesday’s election, but would like to be able to marry now. In a separate statement released Wednesday, the three groups stated their conviction, which is shared by California’s attorney general, that California must honor the marriages of the 18,000 lesbian and gay couples who have already married … About 750 to 1,000 protesters staged a half-hour sit-in outside CNN’s Los Angeles bureau on Sunset Boulevard. The demonstrators chanted slogans and banged on the building’s glass doors but then dispersed without incident. Hundreds also gathered on the steps of San Francisco’s City Hall, according to an AP report. Some held candles and carried signs that read, “We all deserve the freedom to marry.” Talk show host Ellen DeGeneres said she is “saddened beyond belief” over the proposed amendment. DeGeneres, who wed actress Portia de Rossi in August, said in a statement Wednesday to The AP that she, “like millions of Americans, felt like we had taken a giant step toward equality” by electing Barack Obama as president. DeGeneres says that with the passage of California’s Proposition 8, “we took a giant step away.”

Some celebs came out to the rally last night to show their support … including author Christopher Rice, actress Pauley Perrette, comedienne Wanda Sykes and, of course, my boy Lance Bass:

Pink reader Courtney sent in some photos from the peaceful candlelight vigil that took place in Sacramento, CA last night:

She writes: Last night I went out to support my gay friends at the vigil in Sacramento. I have to say, it was the most moving experience I’ve EVER had. The mood was bitter-sweet, yet hopeful, because this fight is very far from being over. The crowd of about 1,000 was very peaceful, and managed to scare away the 5 of 6 Yes on 8-ers that appeared across the street. The word is that another one is happening tonight at 7, so everyone come out!

Organizers in San Francisco, CA are planning a protest march in that city tomorrow night:

Please invite all of your friends. Make your own signs!
Date: Friday, November 7th.
Time: Gathering at 5:30, march will begin shortly after.
Place: From Civic Center (Market and 7th) to Dolores Park.

It is a scary prospect that some people believe that they can merely vote away the rights of a group of people just because they are the majority. Under those circumstances, any group of people could have their rights stripped away by a mere popular vote. Can you imagine what the outcry would be if Atheists banded together to vote away the rights of the religious? Proponents of the discrimination against the GLBT community may believe that they have won some battle by stripping away same-sex marriage rights — even tho their marriage rights were never in danger — but I know ABSOLUTELY that marriage equality will be enjoyed by all citizens of this country some day. It will happen. I know this because Justice demands that it will happen. Freedom from discrimination is not easily won … but it can and will be won. There is much work to be done but I am very much looking forward to the day when the same people who flooded the streets in protest last night will, once again, flood the streets in celebration of the vindication of their rights. It will happen.

Folks interested in learning more about the fight for marriage equality can find up-to-date info at MarriageEquality.org

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The campaign to oppose Proposition 8, which seeks to amend the California constitution to specifically deny same-sex couples the right to marry, will not concede that the proposition has passed despite the news reports that claim that it has passed. Here is the full text of the No on Prop 8 campaign’s statement regarding the votes cast in California last night:

Roughly 400,000 votes separate yes from no on Prop 8 – out of 10 million votes tallied. Based on turnout estimates reported yesterday, we expect that there are more than 3 million and possibly as many as 4 million absentee and provisional ballots yet to be counted. Given that fundamental rights are at stake, we must wait to hear from the Secretary of State tomorrow how many votes are yet to be counted as well as where they are from. It is clearly a very close election and we monitored the results all evening and this morning. As of this point, the election is too close to call. Because Prop 8 involves the sensitive matter of individual rights, we believe it is important to wait until we receive further information about the outcome.

I wholeheartedly agree, the count is too close to call without taking into account the absentee ballots that have been cast in this matter. Even still, citizens of California WILL NOT STAND for the legalization of discrimination in this State and have organized at least 2 big rallies to take place today to protest the campaign to strip Californian citizens of their rights. Here is the info for a rally to take place tonight in West Hollywood, CA:

Hundreds to Attend “No on Prop 8″ Rally in West Hollywood Tonight

WHERE: San Vicente Blvd., between Melrose Ave. and Santa Monica Blvd. West Hollywood, California

Additionally, I’ve received word that a candlelight vigil will take place on the steps of the State Capitol tonight … people interested in attending are requested to bring candles and as many people as they can.

If you are able, I urge all Californians to come out and stand united to oppose the attempts to STRIP CITIZENS OF THEIR RIGHTS. As we learned from last night’s election, change is possible and what was once believed inconceivable can become reality. GLBT citizens of the USA deserve to be treated like everyone else. While our country has made great strides in some respects (thank you President-elect Obama) we still have a long way to go … there is still much we need to fight for!

UPDATE: Here is a list of rallies that will be held in California tonight:

Los Angeles
7:00 p.m. | West Hollywood
Corner of Santa Monica Blvd and San Vicente Blvd

Sacramento
note location change
5 p.m. | Gay & Lesbian Center
1927 L St

San Diego
6:30 | The Center
3909 Centre Street
Co-sponsored by the Center, EQCA and HRC

San Francisco
6:30 | City Hall
1 Dr. Carlton B. Goodlett Place

[Source]

Woot! The Supreme Court of Connecticut has delivered a ruling that overturns the State’s ban on same-sex marriage, determining that same-sex couples cannot be denied the freedom to marry under the State’s constitution. This means that Connecticut is now the third State in the United States of America to allow same-sex marriage, the second State to allow same-sex marriage this year alone:

Connecticut’s Supreme Court ruled Friday that same-sex couples have the right to marry, making the state the third behind Massachusetts and California to legalize such unions. The divided court ruled 4-3 that gay and lesbian couples cannot be denied the freedom to marry under the state constitution, and Connecticut’s civil unions law does not provide those couples with the same rights as heterosexual couples. “I can’t believe it. We’re thrilled, we’re absolutely overjoyed. We’re finally going to be able, after 33 years, to get married,” said Janet Peck of Colchester, who was a plaintiff with her partner, Carole Conklin. Connecticut will join Massachusetts and California as the only state to allow same-sex couples to marry. “Interpreting our state constitutional provisions in accordance with firmly established equal protection principles leads inevitably to the conclusion that gay persons are entitled to marry the otherwise qualified same sex partner of their choice,” Justice Richard N. Palmer wrote in the majority opinion that overturned a lower court finding. “To decide otherwise would require us to apply one set of constitutional principles to gay persons and another to all others,” Palmer wrote. Gov. M. Jodi Rell said Friday that she disagreed, but will not fight the ruling. “The Supreme Court has spoken,” Rell said in a statement. “I do not believe their voice reflects the majority of the people of Connecticut. However, I am also firmly convinced that attempts to reverse this decision — either legislatively or by amending the state Constitution — will not meet with success.” The lawsuit was brought in 2004 after eight same-sex couples were denied marriage licenses and sued, saying their constitutional rights to equal protection and due process were violated. They said the state’s marriage law, if applied only to heterosexual couples, denied them of the financial, social and emotional benefits of marriage. Peck said that as soon as the decision was announced, the couple started crying and hugging while juggling excited phone calls from her brother and other friends and family. “We’ve always dreamed of being married,” she said. “Even though we were lesbians and didn’t know if that would ever come true, we always dreamed of it.”

This is such amazing news! I am so thrilled that slowly but surely, equal rights for all are being recognized for citizens of the US. You can absolutely feel the winds of change blowing over our Nation … socially, it’s an exciting time to be an American. We are very close to electing our first African-American President and State by State same-sex couples are being allowed to marry just like heterosexual couples. Truly the belief that “All men are created equal” is starting to sink in ;) You may recall that the California Supreme Court also legalized same-sex marriage back in May and same-sex couples began to marry here in June. Almost immediately after, those opposed to same-sex marriage worked to get a propostion on the November ballot to ban same-sex marriage in California. It is IMPERATIVE that Californians VOTE NO ON PROPOSITION 8 so that same-sex couples aren’t, once again, treated as second class citizens. It just makes common sense that ALL CITIZENS of this great country be allowed to marry. I really believe that we will get there one day, when the notion of same-sex marriage isn’t given a second thought. I’m sure that we will, one day, live in a country that treats all of its citizens equally — we’re just 47 States away now. Well done, Connecticut!!!

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