Yes, You Heard Right: Gay Marriage Is Legal in Iowa

By Ari Berman, The Nation. Posted April 3, 2009.

In 1839, the Iowa Supreme Court rejected slavery in a decision that found that a slave named Ralph became free when he stepped on Iowa soil, 26 years before the end of the Civil War decided the issue.

In 1868, the Iowa Supreme Court ruled that racially segregated "separate but equal" schools had no place in Iowa, 85 years before the US Supreme Court reached the same decision.

In 1873, the Iowa Supreme Court ruled against racial discrimination in public accommodations, 91 years before the US Supreme Court reached the same decision.

In 1869, Iowa became the first state in the union to admit women to the practice of law.

In the case of recognizing loving relationships between two adults, the Iowa Supreme Court is once again taking a leadership position on civil rights.

Today, we congratulate the thousands of Iowans who now can express their love for each other and have it recognized by our laws.

Will Iowa now become a hotbed of the culture wars? I doubt it. In the midst of a huge economic crisis and two wars abroad, the issue of gay marriage probably won't benefit the Right like it did in 2004. Sure, some activists will fight the court's decision to the bitter end. But my guess is that most Iowans will look at the ruling, shrug, and go back to the business of finding a job or keeping the one they have.

This video from State Senator Matt McCoy of West Des Moines, the first only openly gay legislator in Iowa, sums up the ruling and its likely ramifications quite nicely (and movingly)

See more stories tagged with: same-sex marriage, iowa, marriage equality, court decision

Ari Berman is a contributing writer for The Nation, covering national politics and the 2008 election, and an Investigative Journalism Fellow at The Nation Institute.

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