Marriage Equality in Iowa: The heartland has a heart

The Iowa Supreme Court became the fourth state supreme court in the United States to overturn laws against same-sex marriages. The decision, which passed unanimously, means that gay couples in Iowa will be able to marry in 21 days.

The justices said in their decision, “We have a constitutional duty to ensure equal protection of the law...If gay and lesbian people must submit to different treatment without an exceedingly persuasive justification, they are deprived of the benefits of the principle of equal protection upon which the rule of law is founded.”

The justices acknowledge a possible backlash by marriage equality opponents based on their religious beliefs, and the justices included language addressing those concerns. They maintained that marriage is a civil contract and should not affect religious freedom of Iowans that object to marriage equality based on religious beliefs.

Marriage equality opponents will likely try to overturn the decision in the legislature and by popular vote. But according to The New York Times the attempt will take at least two years. Iowa's laws requires the state legislature to vote to reinstate the ban in two consecutive sessions before it can go to popular vote.

Be on the look out for a special season of June weddings in Iowa!