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After becoming the 4th State in the United States of America to legalize same-sex marriage back in April, same-sex couples began to legally marry in the great State of Vermont yesterday on the first full day that the law legalizing the practice went into effect. Bill Slimback and Bob Sullivan, a couple from New York, were the first same-sex couple to marry in Vermont at the stroke of midnight on September 1, 2009 … here are a couple photos from their joyous wedding ceremony and some deets about the first day of same-sex marriage in Vermont:

After 17 years together, Bill Slimback and Bob Sullivan couldn’t wait another minute to get married. So they didn’t. With Vermont’s new law allowing same-sex marriage only a minute old, they tied the knot in a midnight ceremony at a rustic lodge, becoming one of the first couples to legally wed under a law that took effect at midnight Monday. The start of gay weddings, which came nine years after Vermont’s first-in-the-nation civil unions law, prompted demonstrations Tuesday in Montpelier and Burlington. Five members of the anti-gay Westboro Baptist Church, based in Topeka, Kan., carried signs and sang songs but were outnumbered by counterdemonstrators preaching love and tolerance. The state’s gay marriage era dawned even before dawn Tuesday, with a pair of midnight weddings. At the Moose Meadow Lodge in Duxbury, Slimback and Sullivan tied the knot at 12:01 a.m. The two Whitehall, N.Y., men said their vows under a large wall-mounted moose head, promised their love, exchanged rings and held hands during a modest 17-minute ceremony. Moose Meadow Lodge co-owner Greg Trulson, who’s also a Justice of the Peace, presided. “It feels wonderful,” said Slimback, 38, an out-of-work Teamster who is taking Sullivan’s last name as his own. “It’s a day I’ve been long waiting for, and a day I truly honestly thought would never come.” Slimback said he and Sullivan, 41, have long wanted to cement their relationship with a wedding, but since they couldn’t legally marry in New York they chose Vermont. Vermont is one of four states that now allow same-sex couples to marry. Massachusetts, Connecticut and Iowa are the others. New Hampshire’s law takes effect Jan. 1, 2010. Vermont, which invented civil unions in 2000 after a same-sex couple challenged the inequality of state marriage statutes, was a mecca for gay couples who to that point had no way to officially recognize their relationships. Since then, other states have allowed gay marriage, as did Vermont, which in April became the first state to legalize gay marriage through a legislative decree and not a court case. In another midnight ceremony, Claire Williams, 34, and Cori Giroux, 27, were married in their South Burlington home, with about 20 people attending. They were wed by attorney Beth Robinson, a founder of Vermont Freedom to Marry.

First and foremost, much love and congrats to the happy couples who were married yesterday … and much love and congrats goes out to all those making their way to Vermont to make their marriage dreams come true. Marriage equality in Vermont seems extra special to me because Vermont is the first State in our country to legalize same-sex marriage by legislation … active and public work took place among the State’s lawmakers and a conscious effort to afford marriage equality to all it’s State’s citizens won out. It is a glorious day for marriage equality in our country. The US still has a very long way to go but by following the lead of Vermont, Massachusetts, Connecticut and Iowa our country will truly be the Land of the Free one day. Again … love and congrats! Well done, Vermont!!!

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Happily married couple Ashlee Simpson and Pete Wentz are the latest celebs to join the NOH8 Campaign to fight for marriage equality for same-sex couples in this country. Ashl33n were on hand to participate in a photoshoot here in LA yesterday to add their starpower to the cause … here is a pic of the pair on the set of their photoshoot:

Pete Wentz and Ashlee Simpson-Wentz are keeping their mouths shut for gay marriage. The couple are the latest celebs to take part in NOH8, a campaign supporting efforts to overturn Proposition 8. They were shot by photographer Adam Bouska on Monday with the campaign’s signature look: “NOH8″ painted on their cheeks and duct tape over their mouths as a symbol of the pro-gay voices not being heard. Ashlee also holds a wedding veil in the pic. Which other rocker was in the studio with them? Blink-182′s Mark Hoppus also posed for NOH8. Like the Wentzes, Hoppus took part in the big Hollywood rally and protest shortly after the California Supreme Court upheld the ban on same-sex unions. “My son asked me one time, ‘Some guys have girlfriends and some girls have boyfriends, but do boys sometimes have boyfriends?’ ” Hoppus told us at the rally. “I said, ‘Yeah, all kinds of people love different kinds of people. And that’s the world we live in.’ ” Bouska launched NOH8 with his partner Jeff Parshley in November after the passage of Prop 8. Shanna Moakler and a gaggle of other former beauty queen titleholders posed for the campaign shortly after the Miss California Carrie Prejean controversy erupted in April.

Click HERE to see the impressive collection of photos that have been already taken for the NoH8 Campaign. I think it says a lot that so many straight allies are standing up for the rights of same-sex couples to marry in this country. While there has been much progress in the fight for marriage equality thus far (particularly in the New England States and Iowa), there is still so much work to be done. Much love and respect goes out to Ashlee, Pete, Mark and the rest of the folks who have stepped up to fight the H8.

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Amazing news, y’all!! After the State legislature voted to pass a bill to legalize same-sex marriage earlier Wednesday, the Governor of New Hampshire signed the bill into law shortly after passage making New Hampshire the 5th State in New England and the 6th State in the United States of America to legalize same-sex marriage:

New Hampshire’s governor has signed legislation making the state the sixth to allow gay marriage. Gov. John Lynch was Surrounded by cheering supporters of the move as he signed the three bills about an hour after the key vote on the legislation in the House. The law will take effect in January, exactly two years after the state legalized civil unions. New Hampshire joins Massachusetts, Connecticut, Maine, Vermont and Iowa in recognizing same-sex marriages, though opponents hope to overturn Maine’s law with a public vote. Lynch demanded — and got — language protecting the rights of religious opponents of gay marriage before signing the bills.

The tide of marriage equality for all in this country continues on undaunted. Much love and thanks to the people of New Hampshire for taking another huge step forward for the USA to move one step closer to achieving true Liberty and Justice for all. Even with this wonderful advancement for marriage equality in New Hampshire, there is still a long way to go for the rest of the country. I salute the people of New England for taking the important lead in this matter. This is another great day in the history of the United States of America!!! Woot!!!

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After yesterday’s ruling by the California Supreme Court to uphold the Prop 8 ban on same-sex marriage, folks began rallying all around the State in an effort to peaceably protest that ruling. Here in West Hollywood, CA last night, celebs gathered with protesters to voice their displeasure with the court’s ruling and to begin building support for a new ballot initiative that will likely make it to the polls next year (2010) to Repeal Prop 8. Here are a few pics of some of the celebs who took to the streets in protest last night and some info about what went down:

After months of legal wrangling, the California Supreme Court announced on Tuesday to uphold a ban on same-sex marriages. Justices voted 6-1 to uphold Proposition 8, the voter-approved ban of gay marriage, dealing a major legal blow to the gay and lesbian community. California residents passed Prop 8 with 52 percent of the vote last November. The court also ruled that the roughly 18,000 marriages that took place before Prop 8 took effect are still valid. “It would be a shocking, strange thing in California law to essentially divorce those couples against their will,” said Jennifer Pizer, a lawyer from Lambda Legal. The crowd that had gathered outside the Supreme Court in San Francisco was mostly made up of gay rights supporters, and there was a huge outcry when the ruling was released at 10 a.m. After the announcement, the crowd began marching through San Francisco streets chanting, “Shame on you.” Crowds converged in West Hollywood Tuesday at 7 p.m. to oppose the state Supreme Court’s ruling. They marched to the intersection of Hollywood Blvd. and Highland Ave., shutting down the intersection. That crowd was estimated to be approximately 5,000 strong. Five states have already legalized gay marriage, and gay marriage supporters had hoped California would be the sixth. The justices said the people do have the right to change their constitution through the ballot box. Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger released a statement shortly after the ruling. “While I believe that one day, either the people or courts will recognize gay marriage, as governor of California, I will uphold the decision of the California Supreme Court,” he said. “Regarding the 18,000 marriages that took place prior to Proposition 8′s passage, the court made the right decision in keeping them intact.” The governor encouraged those responding to the decision to do so peacefully and lawfully … In Leimert Park, the ACLU and several faith-based groups held a news conference to respond to the state Supreme Court’s decision. “This is nothing short of apartheid in our own state, that some people were allowed to be married, and others will never have that right,” said Rabbi Denise Eger from Kol Ama Congregation. Local residents Eric Monriquez and Juan Ribera said the announcement was bittersweet for them. While they were happy their marriage would still be recognized by the state, they said they were very disappointed with the ruling. “We’re very sad for other couples,” Ribera said. Gay rights advocates had argued the ballot measure revised the state constitution’s equal protection clause, thus needing the legislature’s approval before it could be put to voters. Six months before Prop 8 passed, the California Supreme Court had ruled in favor of gay marriage, saying that denying gay marriage amounted to state-sanctioned discrimination. Gay rights supporters say the fight is far from over.

Very true, the fight is FAR from over … in fact, it has only just begun. The site RepealProp8.com was launched yesterday in the wake of the court’s ruling that seeks to put the issue back on the ballot for voters to decide again. Because California allows the amendment of the State constitution by a simple voter majority, the issue can go back on the ballot for voters to decide — again. The vote was so close last November that supporters, me included, believe that another vote would be sure to legalize same-sex marriage here in California. If YOU would like info on how you can help the cause, head over to RepealProp8.com. There is still a long road ahead but if we’ve learned nothing from the 5 States that have legalized same-sex marriage in this country, we’ve learned that true marriage equality for all will eventually come — even in places you’d least expect. Much props and love goes out to the celebs who came out to rally last night … including, Kathy Griffin & her mother Maggie, Deborah Gibson, Haylie Duff, Emmy Rossum, Lance Bass, Eliza Dushku and more. Eliza posted photos on her official Twitter page thruout the night. Props, too, to Governor Schwarzenegger for his support as well … here is a short vid clip of his comments to Jay Leno on The Tonight Show last night:

[Photo credit: X17, Splash News; Source]

The California Supreme Court has just issued its ruling on the case against California Prop 8 (which was passed in the November election here in California that amended the State constitution to ban same-sex marriage) and decided that Prop 8 is valid, same-sex marriage will remain illegal in the State of California. The only glimmer of good news from today’s ruling is that the court also ruled that the approximately 18,000 same-sex couples who were wed last year when the practice was legal will still be legally married:

The California Supreme Court today upheld Proposition 8′s ban on same-sex marriage but also ruled that gay couples who wed before the election will continue to be married under state law. The decision virtually ensures another fight at the ballot box over marriage rights for gays. Gay rights activists say they may ask voters to repeal the marriage ban as early as next year, and opponents have pledged to fight any such effort. Proposition 8 passed with 52% of the vote. Although the court split 6-1 on the constitutionality of Proposition 8, the justices were unanimous in deciding to keep intact the marriages of as many as 18,000 gay couples who exchanged vows before the election. The marriages began last June, after a 4-3 state high court ruling striking down the marriage ban last May. In an opinion written by Chief Justice Ronald M. George, the state high court ruled today that the November initiative was not an illegal constitutional revision, as gay rights lawyers contended, nor unconstitutional because it took away an inalienable right, as Atty. Gen. Jerry Brown argued. Only Justice Carlos R. Moreno, the court’s sole Democrat, wanted Proposition 8 struck down as an illegal constitutional revision. Justice Joyce L. Kennard, who voted with the majority last year to give gays marriage rights, joined George and the court’s four other justices in voting to uphold Proposition 8. The case for overturning the initiative was widely viewed as a long shot. Gay rights lawyers had no solid legal precedent on their side, and some of the court’s earlier holdings on constitutional revisions mildly undercut their arguments. But gay marriage advocates captured a wide array of support in the case, with civil rights groups, legal scholars and even some churches urging the court to overturn the measure. Supporters of the measure included many churches and religious organizations. Before last fall, California was one of only two states — the other was Massachusetts — to permit same-sex marriage. Iowa, Connecticut, Vermont and Maine have since legalized it, and lawmakers in New York, New Jersey and New Hampshire are considering bills of their own. California’s historic 2008 ruling, written by George, repeatedly invoked the words “respect and dignity” and framed the marriage question as one that deeply affected not just couples but also their children. California has more than 100,000 households headed by gay couples, about a quarter with children, according to 2000 census data. As soon as the ruling was final, thousands of gay couples showed up at city halls around the state to marry, and many flew in from elsewhere for California weddings. While the wedding business was brisk, opponents mounted a heated campaign with the help of churches and conservatives to overturn the court’s action. Even with the court upholding Proposition 8, a key portion of the court’s May 15, 2008, decision remains intact. Sexual orientation will continue to receive the strongest constitutional protection possible when California courts consider cases of alleged discrimination. The California Supreme Court is the only state high court in the nation to have elevated sexual orientation to the status of race and gender in weighing discrimination claims.

While very upsetting, this news is unsurprising. It was widely expected that the court would uphold Prop 8 and still validate the same-sex marriages that took place here in California when the practice was legal. The next step for same-sex marriage supporters is to put the measure back on the ballot (as early as next year) to amend the State constitution again. It is very clear that California is deeply divided on this issue … the clash of conservatives and liberals is very marked in this State. Altho I was pretty sure I knew what the ruling would be, I’m still very saddened by the outcome. It does hearten me that there are beacons of hope for true freedom in this country shining from the great states of Massachusetts, Connecticut, Iowa, Vermont and Maine. The fight for marriage equality still has a long way to go … but we will get there one day. Of that, I have no doubt.

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In a new interview with Attitude magazine, Tori Amos expresses her disappointment at the fact that California voters could, on the very same day, elect our nation’s first African-American president and also deprive a segment of the citizenry the fundamental right to marry. Now, anyone who is even remotely aware of Tori and her politics should not be surprised by this news at all … even still, at a time when our country still has a long way to go in terms of providing marriage equality for all her comments are definitely worth passing along:

Tori Amos has blasted voters who pushed through a gay marriage ban in California – because it goes against the teachings of Martin Luther King, Jr. The God hitmaker, whose father is a Methodist minister, insists outlawing same-sex unions is un-Christian and a breach of civil rights. And she is confused Californian voters passed the Proposition 8 bill – which reversed a previous ruling permitting gay marriage in the state – on the same day Barack Obama was elected U.S. President last year. She tells Attitude magazine, “(I was) extremely disappointed. Well, we go back to this concept of emancipation. The idea of ‘We will overcome’ from the great Dr. Martin Luther King, was made flesh as Obama was put into the office and yet at the same time another group of people were subjugated by some of those voters. “A lot of people were saying, ‘Well you have to understand that a lot of the voters are Democratic and Christians, the ones that had an issue with rights for the gay community’. And I would say how, in any way, is that the Christian path?”

God Bless Tori Amos. I love that the woman never shies away from voicing her opinions. Her point that Christian path is one of love and acceptance is a valid one. There will always be those people who use religion to their own selfish ends … which is sad because those people ruin things for everyone. I’m convinced that marriage equality will be a reality for all in this country some day, hopefully soon. I’m glad to know that the fight for equality for all has an intelligent woman like Tori Amos on its side.

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Woot!! Another amazing day for marriage equality here in the United States of America! After the Maine State Congress earlier this week passed a bill to legalize same-sex marriage in their State, Governor John Baldacci has today announced that he has signed the bill into law — making Maine the 5th State in the US to legalize same-sex marriage and the second (after Vermont) to do so by State legislature rather than by court order:

Gov. John Baldacci on Wednesday signed a gay marriage bill passed just hours before by the Maine Legislature. Baldacci made his announcement within an hour of the Maine Senate giving its final approval to LD 1020. The Senate voted 21-13 in favor of the measure after a short debate. “In the past, I opposed gay marriage while supporting the idea of civil unions,” Baldacci said in a written statement. “I have come to believe that this is a question of fairness and of equal protection under the law, and that a civil union is not equal to civil marriage.” The House of Representatives gave its approval on a 89-57 vote Tuesday. The governor’s signature makes Maine the fifth state to allow gay marriage. In his statement, Baldacci also acknowledged that his signature may not be the last word on the issue. Opponents have vowed to begin the process of a “people’s veto” to send the matter to referendum. “Just as the Maine Constitution demands that all people are treated equally under the law, it also guarantees that the ultimate political power in the State belongs to the people,” Baldacci said. “While the good and just people of Maine may determine this issue, my responsibility is to uphold the Constitution and do, as best as possible, what is right. I believe that signing this legislation is the right thing to do.” Connecticut, Massachusetts and Iowa have been ordered by the courts to do so, and Connecticut later enacted a law codifying the court ruling. Vermont in April passed a gay marriage law over the governor’s objection.

OMG … Happy, Happy Day!!! It’s like the floodgates of equality and justice have opened up in this country! I cannot believe that so many States have legalized same-sex marriage in this country already … and in such a short period of time! It’s almost as if a new State legalizes the practice on a weekly basis (if only that were really the case). I listened to some of the impassioned debate in the Maine House of Representatives this week on this matter and I was almost brought to tears by the amazing things that many of the legislators spoke before the House. Yes, there was much bigotry and hatred spoken in the oral debate by some but the overwhelmingly positive remarks really filled me with hope and optimism that one day (hopefully soon) marriage equality will be made available for all US citizens. Thank you Maine! Thank you for taking the lead along with Massachusetts, Connecticut, Iowa and Vermont in allowing the citizens of your States the same access to marriage that all heterosexual couples enjoy in this country. These 5 states will forever be remembered as the birthplace of marriage equality in the United States of America. Again … thank you!

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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.

License: Applicants must show proof of identity, pay $35 fee, and have a witness sign the application. Three-day waiting period before wedding may be performed, although this may be waived by judge.

Ceremony: Must be in Iowa, with both parties, an officiate (judge or leader of a religious faith) and two witnesses present.

If a same-sex couple have been legally married elsewhere, their marriage is valid in Iowa as of Monday. It is not yet clear if civil unions from another state or registered domestic partnerships will be recognized in Iowa.

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.

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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!!!

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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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