Politics and Law
Politics and Law (229)
IOWA SUPREME COURT
MARRIAGE DECISION:
IOWA STRIKES DOWN BAN ON GAY MARRIAGE
http://www.desmoinesregister.com/article/20090403/NEWS/90403010
Summary of Varnum v Brien opinion
Summary (pdf)
Varnum v Brien
Full opinion (pdf)
Rallies are planned around the state:
Please see the list below for locations and times, or go to www.OneIowa.org.
Rally Locations:
Ames Rally
Friday, April 03, 5:30 PM
ISU Campus next to the Hub
Contact Matt Skuya at 515-314-0213
Cedar Falls/Waterloo Rally
Friday, April 03, 3:00 PM
Univ. of N. Iowa Maucker Union, Cedar Falls
Contact Kaitlin Corbitz at 319-610-7155
Cedar Rapids Rally
Friday, April 03, 5:00 PM
People’s Church Unitarian Universalist
600 3rd Avenue SE, Cedar Rapids
Contact Andrea Jansa at 319-360-8072
Council Bluffs Rally
Friday, April 03, 5:30 PM
Playland Park
2 North 40th Street, Council Bluffs
Contact Matt Skuya at 515-314-0213
Des Moines Rally
Friday, April 03, 5:30 PM
Western Gateway Park
13th Street between Grand & Locust @ 5:30 pm
Contact the One Iowa Office at 515-288-4019
Decorah Rally
Saturday, April 04, 10:00 AM
Winneshiek County Courthouse
201 W. Main St., Decorah
Contact Amalia Vagts at 563-382-6277
Dubuque Rally
Friday, April 03, 5:30 PM
Q’s
920 Main Street, Dubuque
Contact Tina Sio at 563-564-6316
Iowa City Rally
Friday, April 03, 5:30 PM
Univ. of Iowa Pentacrest
On Clinton Street and Iowa Avenue
Contact Matt Fender at 646-752-5932
Mason City Rally
Friday, April 03, 5:30 PM
Cerro Gordo County Courthouse
220 N. Washington Ave, Mason City
Contact Matt Skuya at 515-314-0213
Quad Cities Rally
Friday, April 03, 5:30 PM
Davenport Unitarian Church
3707 Eastern Avenue, Davenport
Contact Ryan Crane at 402-659-8110
Discriminatory Marriage Amendment introduced in Iowa House
Written by Arthur Breurfrom OneIowa.org
Discriminatory Marriage Amendment introduced in Iowa House
Radical Right continues to engage in fear-tactics
As reported in the Iowa Independent a bill has been introduced in the Iowa House that would seek to write discrimination into the Iowa Constitution. The bill would single out gay and lesbian couples by excluding them from the security and protections of marriage. The move serves as a reminder that our elected officials need to hear the voices of pro-equality Iowans. If you have yet to do so, please contact your legislators in support of marriage equality and in opposition to writing discrimination into the Iowa Constitution.
The Radical Right is mobilizing to deny equal protections for gay and lesbian couples. One look at the Iowa Family Policy Center blog demonstrates the absurdity of their arguments and their offensive rhetoric. A recent IFPC blog post compared marriage between loving and committed same-sex couples to that of marriage between fictional cartoon characters! This type of rhetoric is demeaning and hurtful to families around the state.
You may remember this audio clip of Chuck Hurley, declaring a "battle of good vs. evil" and drawing comparisons between LGBT families and Hitler, the Gulag, rape, and incest. This is what we are up against! Have you contacted your legislator?
Obama to Sign UN Declaration Calling to Globally Decriminalize Homosexuality
Written by Arthur Breur
To read the entire Associated Press article, click the following link.
http://www.time.com/time/politics/article/0,8599,1885989,00.html
Update on Senate File 353: Gay Marriage Bill Unlikely to Proceed
Written by Arthur BreurIowa Civil Marriage / Religious Freedom Bill Introduced
Written by Arthur Breur
Senate File 353 reflects the inclusive thinking suggested in a February 21, 2009 New York Times Op-Ed by David Blankenhorn and Jonathan Rauch. The point of their article was that federal legislation establishing same-sex marriage would need to include recognition of religious freedom: specifically, legal marriage rights could be applied to same-gender partners provided religious institutions would not be penalized for refusing to officiate same-gender marriages. While the bill submitted by Senator McCoy differs in some ways from the Blankenhorn/Rauch proposal, it still recognizes both sides of the gay marriage debate.
By the terms of the bill, two adult citizens of legal age and status for marriage would be able to get a civil marriage license either via court or through agreeable religious institutions. Also, religious leaders and organizations would not be required to bless marriages that are in conflict with their own religious beliefs.
