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Iowa local court overturns marriage ban
Sep. 1st, 2007 07:59 pmHow come I have heard nothing about that on LJ?? A judge in Des Moines ruled that the "Defense of Marriage Act", which prohibits same-sex couples from getting married in Iowa, violates the Iowa state constitution.
This is the same argument that the Massachussetts Supreme Court used to demand of the state that they allow same-sex couples to get married. However, since the Iowa judge was at a lower court level, the decision is going to be appealed and will reach the Iowa Supreme Court and that's when the decision will truly matter. Especially since the judge has stayed his ruling until the appeal has gone through.
I have mixed feelings about this piece of news - I'm ecstatic that things are moving in the right direction for some States, especially midwestern States. But getting there through rulings is arousing a lot of negative comments about activist judges (sic) and this is worrying in the context of the upcoming primaries and Presidential elections. Moral issues were made central in the 2004 elections and I'm convinced that it played a huge part in Bush's reelection. It would be so frustrating to me if LGBT equality was, once again, used to win votes. I don't want another four years of Republican ruling.
On a nicer and less controversial (ironically for us French people) note, the Maine High Court has OK'd adoption by same-sex couples. While civil unions are still rare in the US and only Massachussetts allows same-sex couples to marry, a dozen other states already allow co-adoption by a same-sex partner.
And on a nicer still and completely personal note, I have Pad Thai for dinner tonight, and everyone who's heard me whine about not being able to find Pad Thai in France will understand how DELIGHTED I am right now.
This is the same argument that the Massachussetts Supreme Court used to demand of the state that they allow same-sex couples to get married. However, since the Iowa judge was at a lower court level, the decision is going to be appealed and will reach the Iowa Supreme Court and that's when the decision will truly matter. Especially since the judge has stayed his ruling until the appeal has gone through.
I have mixed feelings about this piece of news - I'm ecstatic that things are moving in the right direction for some States, especially midwestern States. But getting there through rulings is arousing a lot of negative comments about activist judges (sic) and this is worrying in the context of the upcoming primaries and Presidential elections. Moral issues were made central in the 2004 elections and I'm convinced that it played a huge part in Bush's reelection. It would be so frustrating to me if LGBT equality was, once again, used to win votes. I don't want another four years of Republican ruling.
On a nicer and less controversial (ironically for us French people) note, the Maine High Court has OK'd adoption by same-sex couples. While civil unions are still rare in the US and only Massachussetts allows same-sex couples to marry, a dozen other states already allow co-adoption by a same-sex partner.
And on a nicer still and completely personal note, I have Pad Thai for dinner tonight, and everyone who's heard me whine about not being able to find Pad Thai in France will understand how DELIGHTED I am right now.
