[fisticuffs]

Can;t believe no one beat me to this. Anyways where the fuck has this been:
"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 in its decision. "The Legislature has excluded a historically disfavored class of persons from a supremely important civil institution without a constitutionally sufficient justification."

No shit. Finally.

[Ned Flounders]

Can;t believe no one beat me to this.

Er, I sort of did, over here:

viewtopic.php?f=40&t=45609

But maybe "In the news" is a better place for this thread. And yes, I think this is great.

[Aubrey McFate]

And as you can guess, the haters are already gearing up for a constitutional amendment.

The Iowa Senate GOP (minority) leader has already called for the amendment process to begin:

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.

On the bright side, the Iowa House GOP (also minority) leader gave the impression that there are more important issues facing the Iowa Legislature:

We have two jobs in the legislature this year: help put Iowans back to work and pass a balanced budget. Those are our primary jobs. To the extent we get something else done on the side, I'm fine with that.

[snoqueen]

Nobody can say gay marriage is a fringe issue or a "coast" thing any more.

Go Iowa Supremes.

[Huckleby]

I can't get too excited about it, it's impossible to know whether it will be a good or bad thing. So far, the pattern has been that court rulings just spurn anti-gay marriage amendments.

It's too bad that the target wasn't set for civil unions, that would have been more effective. The next generation will pass marriage. Going for marriage now has been bad strategically, although of course it is an emotional issue as well as a question of strategy.

[john_titor]

Iowa is weird.

[fennel]

It's too bad that the target wasn't set for civil unions, that would have been more effective.

Whatever legal distinction there may still be between civil union and marriage needs to be eliminated. The sooner, the better. I'd favor de-institutionalizing legal marriage altogether in favor of civil union. If you want to be recognized as married, bonded in lust, tethered by family – whatever – let it remain between you and whatever social organization you choose to recognize it. But for legal recognition, there should only be civil union.

[Dust Mite Rodeo]

People in Iowa look like they picked their clothes out of the 1978 Sears catalog. Fabulous? Non!

[Huckleby]

. I'd favor de-institutionalizing legal marriage altogether in favor of civil union. If you want to be recognized as married, bonded in lust, tethered by family – whatever – let it remain between you and whatever social organization you choose to recognize it. But for legal recognition, there should only be civil union.

ya, I agree completely with this view. I always tell people I'm not for gay marriage, I'm against heterosexual marriage. Marriage is a religous institution, or at least has a lot of religous aspects to it. The government should ONLY perform civil unions.

I wonder if this point of view has a chance of growing. Unlikely, too many people want to pretend that their view of marriage is the right way, and therefore we must enforce that standard.

[snoqueen]

I agree as well. Marriages belong in churches, and need to stay in churches. Civil unions should be a whole nother thing.

Still, Iowa has answered the question on the terms in which it was asked, and their answer is an affirmation of basic human rights.

[Dangerousman]

Ahhh, Iowa-- the Golden Gateway to Nebraska!

Iowa becoming "100% more fabulous" would mean that is is slightly more fabulous than New Jersey, but still below Pennsylvania on the Fabulous Scale.

Iowa is more likely to pass legislation protecting marriage with farm animals before passing legislation to allow gay marriage. But we should appreciate Iowa for what it is--- a stinking farmland that produces excellent pork chops, kick-ass high school girls' basketball teams, fat cheerleaders and Johnny Carson. Oh, I almost forgot-- and drivers who seem baffled by any highway that has more than two lanes*.

Shame on you! They do not buy their clothes from the 1978 Sears catalog! They buy clothing from the 2009 Wal Mart. (Although one may ponder whether Wal Mart obtained its merchandise from the 1978 Sears catalog.) Or, they make their own clothing for 4-H projects (using Simplicity Patterns and material purchased at Wal Mart.)

* A phenomenon that is balanced by the drivers from Illinois who seem to believe that every highway has more than two lanes and NYC drivers who ask the burning question, "What is this thing you call a 'lane'?"

[jonnygothispen]

http://www.chron.com/disp/story.mpl/ap/ ... 62530.html


MONTPELIER, Vt. — 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.

(Vermont, Massachusetts, Connecticut and Iowa)

[Dangerousman]

There are a lot of reasons to like Vermont. Very high on the Fabulousness Scale.

[Huckleby]

I'm going to keep a sharp eye on Vermont and Iowa. I expect the number of divorces to rise there now that the institution of marriage has been weakened.

[fennel]

I'm going to keep a sharp eye on Vermont and Iowa. I expect the number of divorces to rise there now that the institution of marriage has been weakened.

It hadn't occurred to me that marriage had been institutionalized. Well, I guess it seems to be in recovery now, at last. And to think, all it took was a bit of sunshine and fresh air!