Gay Marriage in Iowa

Aric Bishop Column Story Iowa Gay Marriage Rights On April 3, 2009, the Iowa Supreme Court unanimously decided that there was no important governmental interest in denying citizens marriage licenses based on their sexual orientation. My applause go to the Supreme court in Iowa not only are they promoting that they are not a state who cares about the sexual orientation and the love between two persons. They also are promoting a more tolerant attitude and acceptance for people. Also, Iowa has always had this idea of what you do is your own business, just don’t do it in my backyard or make me feel uncomfortable about your way of living. The nation needs to embrace a more willing and open concept if anything is ever to be achieved in this world. Is it fair to treat someone else as a second-class citizen when they prefer to be with someone of the same-sex? How can we justify that they shouldn’t love who they want to love or be the person they want to be. Our nation was built on rebels who stood against the status quo and what baffles me is why we as a human race can’t stand away from our own confines or sense of comfort and simply just allows others to live the lives they want to live. If Iowa can overturn a 10-year-old ban on samesex marriage then why can’t the nation pursue a more enlightened look on gay rights and gay equality. As it rests now, Iowa has become the center of the nation’s debate over gay rights, because it is a Midwest state and no one would have suspected Iowa to agree to such conditions. But, what we really need now are states like Iowa to move forward toward higher understanding and better equality for everyone in this nation. Iowa remains one of three states in the nation, and the only one in the Midwest, where gays and lesbians can marry. Under this new amendment there are no residency

requirements for marriage licenses, and this is a good thing, because this opens the door to many throughout other states to come to Iowa to marry. “It’s really an astounding moment under our history,” Rev. Mark Stringer, who officiated the only legal same-sex marriage in Iowa in 2007 said. “What really excites me is that Iowa is the first in our area of the country. We are being a leader in civil rights, which will be part of our state’s history.” It is innovative persons like Stinger who make me proud to be an Iowan. That I am not the only one who sees these injustices as unfair and unreasonable, however, that doesn’t mean I don’t agree with the guidelines the state as set under the new 69-page amendment. The amendment clearly states that churches within Iowa have the right to decide who can be married under its roof, and to me this is justified. I am not going to go to low depths to upset someone else’s believes or customs, but at the same time I expect them to show the same courtesy to those who they don’t particularly agree with. To each his own. The pride that stems from the passing of Iowa leading the way in civil rights can only be best expressed in the hearts of those it is helping. Those injustices are coming to a close and steps toward a brighter future and better equality are being taken. One can only pray that someday this matter will be laid to rest when both parties are left happy and that will only happen when equal rights have been obtained and achieved. People shouldn’t have to live in fear for the lives they choose to live. They shouldn’t have to be treated differently or foreign for their lifestyle. In the end I am proud to be an American, because there is an aspiration for higher civil rights for all and better understanding. This is

clearly displayed in fine states such as Iowa, Massachusetts, Connecticut, Vermont and New Hampshire.