Could Iowa be the Next State To Recognize Same-Sex Marriage Rights?

by Michael Jones · 2008-10-14 19:54:00 UTC
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gay marriage 2Gay marriage in Connecticut is not even a week old, and the status of marriage rights in California won't be known for sure until after voters weigh in on Proposition 8 this Election Day, but LGBT activists are already looking at what could be the next state to break for marriage rights -- Iowa.

On December 9, the Iowa Supreme Court will hear oral arguments in the case of Varnum v. Brien, a lawsuit filed on behalf of six same-sex couples seeking the right to marry in Iowa.  The state currently bans gay marriage, but last year an Iowan District Court ruled that the State's ban on same-sex marriage was unconstitutional.  The matter now goes to the Iowa Supreme Court, which will have the final say on the matter.

In the wake of Connecticut's decision last week to recognize marriage rights, Carolyn Jenison, the Executive Director of Iowa's largest LGBT organization One Iowa, said that her group looks forward to the day when committed same-sex couples in Iowa can have their marriage rights recognized.

“Like most Iowans, we respect the judicial process and the role of the Iowa Supreme Court. The Iowa courts have a long tradition of upholding basic rights and protection for all Iowans,” said Jenison.

Anti-marriage activists, led by conservative groups including the Iowa Christian Alliance, have already begun the groundwork to beat back any efforts to legalize same-sex marriage.  This coming Election Day, voters in Iowa will decide whether to retain three of the seven justices of the Iowa Supreme Court, and conservative groups have already started to hammer away at two justices they feel are prone to support marriage rights for same-sex couples.

As the Iowa case moves forward, be sure to visit One Iowa for updates on the education efforts and public forums being organized to support equal marriage rights.  Let's hope that Iowa becomes the fourth state to acknowledge marriage rights for same-sex couples.

Michael Jones is a Change.org Editor. He has worked in the field of human rights communications for a decade, most recently for Harvard Law School.
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