AMERICAblog: Iowa Supreme Court rules in favor of same-sex marriages
Julie
· 10 months ago
I've have always been for gay rights. This last weekend my 6 year old son said he wanted to marry a boy at school and said he wondered if he was gay. He may be! I'm not throwing an out of the closet party yet :) but it really hit home that if he is gay I want him to be treated fairly and justly. I want him to have a wonderful life and not have to creep around and hide. When I thought about this possible future my heart hurt for all the gay people who have had to live in the shadows like criminals and feel like they were subhuman. I will fight so my son won't have this life and even if my son isn't gay, I have a new passion for gay rights. Enough is enough. Good for Iowa.
cowboyneok
· 10 months ago
What a great story, and wonderful mother! We "LGBT" love you!
kladinvt
· 10 months ago
Your son is very lucky to have you as his mother. And fortunately by the time he is actually ready to get married his choice of spouse will not matter in any state, and that includes Utah!!!!
Disgusted American
· 10 months ago
Interesting how a country (OUR COUNTRY) ..constantly BOASTS about Freedom this,and Freedom that…”Liberty & Justice for All” blah blah blah…..EMPTY Meaningless words..that mean SQUAT!
STOP calingl it GAY MARRIAGE - It’s Marriage EQUALITY STOP calling it SAME SEX MARRIAGE - We do NOT call hetero Marriage “Opposite Sex Marriage”
If you don’t like Marriage Equality - then DON’T marry someone of the same sex NO Religion will be forced to Marry anyone they deem “unworthy” NO Religion will be Locked up or Fined for speaking out against LGBT people - tho Tony Perkins and the AFA WILL LIE and say otherwise(even tho that’s something Jesus would NEVER do..IF he ever existed)
America - LIVE UP TO YOUR Constant spread of LIES about Personal Freedoms..Either we are ALL Free, or NONE of us are!
When in America has the Public EVER gotten to VOTE on any other Minority Rights? THEY HAVEN’T! When in America was Religion USED to FIGHT Equality for Blacks,Women etc etc……TOO MANY TIMES to COUNT!!!
cowboyneok
· 10 months ago
exactly. No make that EXACTLY!
RitornaVincitor
· 10 months ago
California is next. Any day the Cal Supreme Court will issue its ruling on Prop 8. They are expected to uphold Prop 8, but also rule that the 18,000 existing gay marriages remain valid. Maybe, just maybe they will shock everyone and strike down Prop 8. What a victory that would be! But most likely it will be up to the voters next year to overturn it. The fight goes on.
RainbowPhoenix
· 10 months ago
Don't forget Vermont, two nay voters have said that they will vote to override the promised veto.
bkmn
· 10 months ago
If they don't have hate how will they fill their coffers?
It's about $$$, not human rights.
Steve_in_CNJ
· 10 months ago
great news to wake up to! wonder if it will impact the california supreme court. experts were saying it was a foregone conclusion that they would repudiate their earlier decision about marriage being a fundamental right.
mermaidart
· 10 months ago
There are gay people in Iowa??!! Who knew?
RainbowPhoenix
· 10 months ago
We are EVERYWHERE.
Vince in Cedar Rapids
· 10 months ago
Yes there are, maybe even more than I can count on my hand, LOL. :)
Rob Mule
· 10 months ago
Oh, the hate will pour...Look for the Rethugs to test market another fact-free, non-issue trial balloon, "Liberals have brought America homos and pot"... As most of us know there is nothing more threatening to sour-faced puritanical pussyfootery than a stoned 'mo...
Steve_in_CNJ
· 10 months ago
the article itself reads like a press release from the family research council. first you see this: "...a setback for social conservatives who wanted to protect traditional families" written with no quotes or sense of irony. then a long series of anti-gay talking points with no rebuttal.
Topher
· 10 months ago
Steve-I came into the comments section to make the same point. "Protect traditional families" should have, at a minimum, been put in quotations, and preferably qualified in the article as the social conservatives unfounded argument against marriage equality.
However, this is amazing news! The best part--I have a crush on a guy who lives in Iowa! :)
Blueflash
· 10 months ago
It's also inaccurate. This ruling makes Iowa the third state, after Massachusetts and Connecticut, to permit same-sex marriages, not the fourth.
Steve_in_CNJ
· 10 months ago
maybe he was counting california or vermont. vermont has a problem with their governor and california has a problem with mormons.
kladinvt
· 10 months ago
Our House just approved the bill with a 95-52 vote (not enough to override Gov. Dickless' promised veto - we need 100 votes) but some reps have indicated they might change their nay votes once the veto occurs. The Senate already has enough votes.
cowboyneok
· 10 months ago
I was just getting ready to point the quote "social conservatives who wanted to protect traditional families." out as well! Really pissed me off.
Protect traditional families? From what?
Rob Mule
· 10 months ago
Like the pot debate, rationality quickly devolves into spitting, inky pigtails and vague portents...
Kevin
· 10 months ago
Wonderful news! Any thinking person can easily recognize GLBT equality as the next civil rights frontier. And yes, the well-funded lies and hypocritical venom will no doubt be soon in coming. We shall overcome!
kladinvt
· 10 months ago
Here's a great take on what exactly traditional marriage has actually been through the years:
Congratulations Iowa! Now if only we could figure out how to undo the idiocy in Ohio.
Judas Peckerwood
· 10 months ago
What truly outstanding news to wake up to.
Ben
· 10 months ago
Get ready for gay Drudge to put up some bitchy homophobic headline. Already this morning he blew up the pic of Sacha Baron Cohen on his front page with a black baby as if to warn of predatory gays. Drudge is so twisted about being gay.
mark
· 10 months ago
Not twisted he's a SELF LOATHING CLOSET CASE!
Rob Mule
· 10 months ago
You mean the baby with the "traditional African name", "OJ"?
caphillprof
· 10 months ago
The sound you hear is Scalia rolling over in his chambers.
example
· 10 months ago
Iowa doesn't have a simple referendum process to amend the constitution either. In order to change the constitution, you have to go through the (currently dem controlled) legislature. The standards are pretty high. I think it can end up as a referendum, or maybe not. Either way, you're not going to see the kind of instant populist campaign to repeal this.
on the other hand, I suppose it's possible that legislators might try to override this ruling, but would take a while.
mark
· 10 months ago
Congratulations Iowa, and a unanimous ruling was a nice touch.
MyVoice
· 10 months ago
I hope the media will use this ruling to pressure VT Gov. Douglas to change his threat to veto the bill in Vermont. Douglas could just let the bill become law without signing it. I am not sure there are enough votes to override a veto.
lilybart
· 10 months ago
the legislature said they won't bring up any bills about an ammendment to block this this session. Which means it could not be on a ballot until 2012 under Iowa rules. By then, people should see that NOTHING bad happened.
Jim
· 10 months ago
Wow.... change is really coming to America!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! It is SO NICE to feel good again!
Thank You, Iowa!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I didn't know you had it in you!
cowboyneok
· 10 months ago
I know! I know! Its to "protect traditional families" from us announcing our same sex spouses to our "traditional families" at Thanksgiving! We wouldn't want to have heads explode all over the turkey and dressing... Heh!
(In response to everyone below who caught the ridiculous line in article about "protecting traditional families" from gay marriage.)
RevDave
· 10 months ago
As an Iowan, it will be great to watch Rep Steve King's head explode over this along with the rest of fundamentalist led Republican Party of Iowa.
Most of the rest of Iowa does not really care and will appreciate the increased wedding tourism this will result in (you do not have to be a resident of Iowa to be wed here)
Tysalpha
· 10 months ago
Holy crap! This wasn't even on my radar -- how wonderful! :D Congratulations to my nextdoor neighbors to the north!
Milli
· 10 months ago
I love you Iowa. You put Obama on the map in the primaries and now this.......
cowboyneok
· 10 months ago
For anyone that is interested, I've got a couple of gay rights videos up at Pink Panthers Blog today. The first one is of the first African American Secretary of the Army, Clifford Alexander, ripping apart "Don't Ask / Don't Tell." The second is an entertaining video of Portia De Rossi apologizing to Prop 8 supporters for "hurting them" by marrying Ellen!
The religious right claims that they are trying to protect traditional families by opposing equal marriage rights for gay couples. Framing their hate in this manner is viewed by some in the media as more socially acceptable - they are "defending families". We need to make sure the point is made obvious to the public at large that they are not "defending families" they are denying equal rights for people that they have a problem with.
Apphouse50
· 10 months ago
Ah, surprising Iowa! That state has often done things not normally associated with midwestern agricultural-type places. Does my heart good.
Much applause to you, Iowa!
Butch1
· 10 months ago
Won't that just piss off the Iowa Legislature. They will get busy putting into law that a marriage is between a man & woman only nonsense. Just watch. ;-(
The courts used to be the final word in this country, but the bigots have learned how to do an "end-run" around the law as witnessed in California and Prop - 8.
red_dwarf
· 10 months ago
Butch1 - Prop-8 was on its face unconstitutional. You cannot take-away the rights of an unprotected minority without meeting the highest of burdens - something that the courts must decide.
At least Iowa is doing it right. The bigots live in a world of dillusion - and that's where they'll stay.
Butch1
· 10 months ago
Many are saying that it doesn't look good for marriage in California when the argument is narrowed down to, " do the citizens of the state have the right to vote against laws they do not like."
I recall this marriage bill going through the state congress only to have it vetoed by the governor who claimed this was a decision that needed to be decided by the courts, effectively dismissing one branch of the government that was designed to make law. It went through the court system and the ruling was in favor of marriage. Enter the bigots who have learned that if they do not like a ruling, they can put it up to popular vote and change it. That is what happened. Now the California justices have to decide whether the citizens have the right to do that. It is not looking good at all regardless of the rights of gays and lesbians that have been trampled upon, it looks like the ruling is going to be "majority wins all arguments, including the right to deny rights to minority groups. This will also play out in Iowa, in my opinion. ( right or wrong ) I think it is wrong to discriminate against minorities and I thought our country was set up so the little guy would have rights and his day in court to protect his rights from being decided by a mob majority. We shall see, but it doesn't look very good. The justices were mesmerized by Ken Starr and that was not a good sign.
Blueflash
· 10 months ago
The story just hit the NYT. According to their article the situation sounds similar to that of Massachusetts in terms of amending the state constitution: approval in two consecutive legislative sessions followed by approval by the voters. That's good news. Unlike in California, Iowans will have more time to see for themselves that the lies of the religious right as to consequences were just that.
uwyoalum (with Iowa roots)
· 10 months ago
I love the picture of the protester that accompanies the Des Moines Register news storie. "Same sex animals don't mate". Funny, I used to watch my grandfather's milk cows do just that all the time (he always told us they were playing piggy back). Not to mention the well documented and studied same sex relationships in many animal species.
Blueflash
· 10 months ago
Then when you point out to the Christofascisti the documentation by biologists that disproves that, they turn and and accuse you of comparing people to animals! No getting anywhere with these irrational nut jobs.
John Aravosis
· 10 months ago
Penguins
uwyoalum (with Iowa roots)
· 10 months ago
my desktop wallpaper is a picture of the gay penguin couple in the Chinese zoo.
Andy
· 10 months ago
So? Animals don't read. Should we make books unconstitutional?
Morons.
mirth
· 10 months ago
I have written here about a scene I see play out each mating season near my home, which is the pairing of male mallards. Out of a small flock, about 15-20 ducks, there are usually 4-5 male parings. These are migrating mallards, thus a different group each year.
*
This news from Iowa is heart-lifting for all citizens, but for this straight who last night watched Milk it is especially meaningful.
Wesinoregon
· 10 months ago
Same here in Oregon. Ducks doing it, males... And they even chase off the females from their mates. A study at Oregon State shows a percentage of gay rams too. That's in a google search.
mirth
· 10 months ago
Wes, that's what I observe each Spring - a male/female paired until another male chases off the female and then the two males stay paired throughout the mating season.
Helen Rainier
· 10 months ago
UW -- You make an excellent point about the well documented and studied same sex relationships in animal species. Last I read, there were over 500 species that researchers have observed having same sex relationships.
dula
· 10 months ago
Conservative Iowa puts California to shame...especially all those Democrats who voted FOR Prop. 8. You guys are a joke.
red_dwarf
· 10 months ago
Strange isn't it? No question that the Iowa Supreme Court appears to have true academically motivated jurists. Good for them. What a great day in Iowa history.
Can't remember the last time I thought to myself that I was proud of Iowa. This changes everything in my mind.
Way to lead Iowa! God loves ya and you know we do!
Wiliw
· 10 months ago
where can I find a cheap flight? The F-ing Mormons messed up my Catalina plans
cole
· 10 months ago
I have not been prouder to be from Iowa than I am right now.
sane
· 10 months ago
Iowa has been ahead of the curve before, first freedom of the press ruling, first slave freed and now marriage is free. yay!
mark
· 10 months ago
REALLY CA and NY doesn't it embarrass you Iowa is cutting edge in evolving...and you aren't? MN and WI come on bring the entire Midwest into THIS Century
Wolfsinger
· 10 months ago
Gay or Straight, this law from the heart of America strengthens the very definition of Marriage between loving, consenting adults. It is a victory by every measure.
With the added benefit of making Christian Values Republican heads pop in their brain-cases like a good ol' fashioned mid-west - Yodel.
Well done Iowa.
scottinsf
· 10 months ago
Congrats to all in Iowa! I'm so happy for you.
Meanwhile.....my husband and I await the CA Supreme Court decision whether the voters can legally force us to divorce.
mdw0526
· 10 months ago
This is from the Des Moines Register article:
"...I think it’s significant because Iowa is considered a Midwest state in the mainstream of American thought," Socarides said. "Unlike states on the coasts, there’s nothing more American than Iowa. As they say during the presidential caucuses, 'As Iowa goes, so goes the nation.’"
Wasn't Iowa the one that truly started the path to Obama's victory during their caucus? He won a surprising victory in a nearly all-white state. Iowa also outlawed slavery nearly 20 years before the Dred Scott decision. They have a history of being progressive.
benb
· 10 months ago
Massachusetts was an anomaly. California was an exception. But Iowa can only be a trend.
ct
· 10 months ago
what about Connecticut- lol
Annie
· 10 months ago
LAMDA, LAMDA, LAMDA...
Makes me think of the NERDS !!
ryamuse
· 10 months ago
So proud to be an Iowan today! My husband, myself and our two kids talked about the decision this morning at breakfast thinking of all our friends this decision impacts. Congrats, congrats, congrats!
eclare
· 10 months ago
Weird. I had a dream last night that I was wandering around my neighborhood singing Dar Williams' song "Iowa" at the top of my lungs.
DifferentLight
· 10 months ago
It is one thing to say gay people should be able to marry whoever they want, and completely other thing to say they are incapable of a fulfilling relationship with a member of the opposite sex. The Supreme Court decision read "Under such a law, gay or lesbian individuals cannot simultaneously fulfill their deeply felt need for a committed personal relationship." I'm very happily married to a woman and very fulfilled even though I am primarily attracted to men. For Iowa to say I am incapable of such a relationship is discriminatory. I wish they could have just said that anyone should be able to marry anyone they chose rather than saying I am incapable of loving my wife.
John Aravosis
· 10 months ago
I think you're over-analyzing.
DifferentLight
· 10 months ago
Have you ever talked to someone with same-sex attraction who is married to a member of the opposite sex? Society throws us in the closet, saying either we don't exist or aren't being true to ourselves? Have you ever gone to a conference like Love Won Out and seen lines of people yelling at us for trying to create a happy home? It is amazing how quickly we become exception when it comes to people should be able to be with whoever they want. If same-sex couple want to be recognized that's fine, but don't say gays are incapable of a fulfilling relationship with the opposite sex.
John Aravosis
· 10 months ago
Yeah, I've been to that specific conference. I've also read most all the literature the "ex-gay" groups put out, even ordered a bunch of their "cure" tapes.
I don't believe any man is gay who is happily married to, and having a fulfilling relationship and sex life with, a woman. I suspect they're basically bisexual (or gay and not admitting it, and thus not happy underneath). As for you, good for you, if you're bi. But no one ever said bisexuals can't be happy with the opposite sex - that's the definition of bisexuality. Attendees at that conference, however, have nothing to do with the point you're making. I believe they are people who are very distressed by the fact that they're gay, have a psychological issue with being gay, and it's a very sad thing. But it has nothing to with bisexuality, well, other than the fact that those who claim to "cured" (which in fact, the "ex-gay" groups don't actually claim to be able to do) were, I believe, simply bisexual, or perhaps 60-40 on the Kinsey scale and living their life a 40.
The fact that you find someone else's civil rights victory a negative, and somehow all about you, is just very sad for what it says about you. You're a guy who like girls, great. Most "gay" people don't - and certainly not as much as they like guys. So stop pretending you somehow represent the majority of gay people when, I believe, you represent the majority of bisexuals. And even then...
DifferentLight
· 10 months ago
I used to have no sexual attractions to women whatsoever. I was 100% gay. Then I met my wife. After I fell in love with her, I started developing sexual feelings for her, based not on my sexual orientation, but genuine love for her.
Either I am a gay man in love with a woman, or Love Won Out was able to "cure" me of being gay. I have made no claim either way, nor have I tried to present myself as representing any type of majority. Indeed, I feel much like a minority. I know a lot of the men who attend the conference who are happily married to their wives. Marital bliss does not center around sex. Let us be!
My complaint with Iowa's decision was not that it gave same-sex couples the right to marry, but that it puts us in the closet. It feeds the ignorance and bigotry from people like you who think people like us are really not happy underneath. I have lots of other friends in similar situations. Many are afraid to come out, because people will say they aren't being true to themselves. Many can't even tell their wives for fear that they will leave them. I even have friends whose wives left them when they found out they were gay. Like I said, I wish they could have just said that anyone should be able to marry anyone they chose rather than saying I am incapable of loving my wife.
frank l kinney
· 10 months ago
EQUALITY MEANS EGUALITY! this means that iowa supreme court finds man and man! women and women! can marry with EQUAL rights? thats nice! so than i guess if supreme courts of states approve this perverted behavior as constitutional RIGHT! than this will also open the homosexual adoptions DOORS TOO!!!!! so man and women create children! degenerates perverts will also have constitutional rights to adopt moms and dads children? perverted behavior supreme court of IOWA supports! mothers and fathers who try to protect their children from homosexual predators is over ruled by supreme IOWA judgement? criminal in judgement indeed! results CIVIL UNREST judgements in our supreme courts across america! CHANGE society to permit lewd and sick behavior in our culture on EQUALITY on constitutional rights? unnormal behavior and threat to mothers and fathers and their childrens protection? this type of behavior for which homosexuals do not produce life? supreme court finds this group of perverts have equal rights? this type of life was majority in society we would not have a IOWA supreme court decision now would we? gee would be no life period!!!! thats a hot one you think? EQUAL RIGHTS" for homosexuals and dykes decision by our new change law makers sitting on the supreme courts benches? QUEER meaning a homosexual dictionary word discription" "COUNTERFEIT" <~ money> 2. differing from the usual or normal: PECULLIAR,STRANGE. 3. often dispararaging: homosexual; also, sometimes offensive: of, relating to,or used by homosexuals! * SYNONYMS weird, bizarre, eccentric, curious---- QUEER period. QUEER vb: to SPOIL the effectof:DISRUPT<~ed our plans> IOWA SUPREME COURT DECISION OF UNNORMAL DISRUPTION IN SOCIETY? DECISION that puts society at risk in it;s thoughtful decision? CRIMINAL INTENT DECISION!!!! SUPREME argument EQUALITY DISCRIMINATION DECISION? SEEMS moms and dads and our law are all being criminally over look on their childrens and marriage rights on this IOWA SUPREME JUDGEMENT you think? the mentally sick have rights? like barney frank in congress? sitting in judgement of moms and dads and our children supreme court? CIVIL UNREST you bet BIG TIME! IOWA SUPREME COURT DECISION ON EQUALITY AND HOMOSEXUALS RIGHTS TO MARRY HOMOSEXUAL MAN AND MAN! HOMOSEXUAL DYKES WOMEN AND WOMEN !! have RIGHTS? YET THE WORD WHICH DISCRIBS THEIR BEHAVIOR SPELLS CAUTION WARNING! MINIMIZE RISK! SUPREME COURT DECISION one that astonishes society and puts them in harms way from this supreme decision? reasoning and decision CRIMINAL INTENT FROM THE BENCH! INDEPENDENT truth justice and the american way! TICKING TIME BOMB DECISION STORY. god bless america AMEN.
GBC
· 10 months ago
Fred Phelps... is that you? Seriously dude, take your meds.
monitor
· 10 months ago
frank l kinney,
I agree with GBC just below. Take your meds...and take a hike.
sitemonitor
abz
· 10 months ago
Wow. You are so narrow minded. You talk like gay people are a whole different species...like I said. Narrow minded.
Damn Conservatives.
foxy
· 10 months ago
They did an in-fucking-credible amazing thing in this ruling - they addressed religion head-on and concluded that the government has no place resolving religious debates.
GBC
· 10 months ago
Funny you should bring up the Mo's.
Ironic that it's their blessed General Conference this weekend.
I also live in Utah... and its currently snowing on their "Mormon Parade."
Way to go, Iowa!
chris in utah
· 10 months ago
this is perhaps the dumbest comment in history. "snowing on their 'mormon parade'"? it's snowing. so what?
All Comments
STOP calingl it GAY MARRIAGE - It’s Marriage EQUALITY
STOP calling it SAME SEX MARRIAGE - We do NOT call hetero Marriage “Opposite Sex Marriage”
If you don’t like Marriage Equality - then DON’T marry someone of the same sex
NO Religion will be forced to Marry anyone they deem “unworthy”
NO Religion will be Locked up or Fined for speaking out against LGBT people - tho Tony Perkins and the AFA WILL LIE and say otherwise(even tho that’s something Jesus would NEVER do..IF he ever existed)
America - LIVE UP TO YOUR Constant spread of LIES about Personal Freedoms..Either we are ALL Free, or NONE of us are!
When in America has the Public EVER gotten to VOTE on any other Minority Rights? THEY HAVEN’T!
When in America was Religion USED to FIGHT Equality for Blacks,Women etc etc……TOO MANY TIMES to COUNT!!!
It's about $$$, not human rights.
As most of us know there is nothing more threatening to sour-faced puritanical pussyfootery than a stoned 'mo...
"...a setback for social conservatives who wanted to protect traditional families" written with no quotes or sense of irony. then a long series of anti-gay talking points with no rebuttal.
However, this is amazing news! The best part--I have a crush on a guy who lives in Iowa! :)
Protect traditional families? From what?
http://www.vpr.net/news_detail/84568/#
(Click on "Listen")
on the other hand, I suppose it's possible that legislators might try to override this ruling, but would take a while.
Thank You, Iowa!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I didn't know you had it in you!
(In response to everyone below who caught the ridiculous line in article about "protecting traditional families" from gay marriage.)
Most of the rest of Iowa does not really care and will appreciate the increased wedding tourism this will result in (you do not have to be a resident of Iowa to be wed here)
Congratulations to my nextdoor neighbors to the north!
Check'em out. They are good! Especially Mr. Alexander... He deserves a human rights award.
Much applause to you, Iowa!
The courts used to be the final word in this country, but the bigots have learned how to do an "end-run" around the law as witnessed in California and Prop - 8.
At least Iowa is doing it right. The bigots live in a world of dillusion - and that's where they'll stay.
I recall this marriage bill going through the state congress only to have it vetoed by the governor who claimed this was a decision that needed to be decided by the courts, effectively dismissing one branch of the government that was designed to make law. It went through the court system and the ruling was in favor of marriage.
Enter the bigots who have learned that if they do not like a ruling, they can put it up to popular vote and change it. That is what happened. Now the California justices have to decide whether the citizens have the right to do that. It is not looking good at all regardless of the rights of gays and lesbians that have been trampled upon, it looks like the ruling is going to be "majority wins all arguments, including the right to deny rights to minority groups. This will also play out in Iowa, in my opinion. ( right or wrong ) I think it is wrong to discriminate against minorities and I thought our country was set up so the little guy would have rights and his day in court to protect his rights from being decided by a mob majority. We shall see, but it doesn't look very good. The justices were mesmerized by Ken Starr and that was not a good sign.
Morons.
*
This news from Iowa is heart-lifting for all citizens, but for this straight who last night watched Milk it is especially meaningful.
Can't remember the last time I thought to myself that I was proud of Iowa. This changes everything in my mind.
Way to lead Iowa! God loves ya and you know we do!
MN and WI come on bring the entire Midwest into THIS Century
With the added benefit of making Christian Values Republican heads pop in their brain-cases like a good ol' fashioned mid-west - Yodel.
Well done Iowa.
Meanwhile.....my husband and I await the CA Supreme Court decision whether the voters can legally force us to divorce.
"...I think it’s significant because Iowa is considered a Midwest state in the mainstream of American thought," Socarides said. "Unlike states on the coasts, there’s nothing more American than Iowa. As they say during the presidential caucuses, 'As Iowa goes, so goes the nation.’"
Wasn't Iowa the one that truly started the path to Obama's victory during their caucus? He won a surprising victory in a nearly all-white state. Iowa also outlawed slavery nearly 20 years before the Dred Scott decision. They have a history of being progressive.
Makes me think of the NERDS !!
I don't believe any man is gay who is happily married to, and having a fulfilling relationship and sex life with, a woman. I suspect they're basically bisexual (or gay and not admitting it, and thus not happy underneath). As for you, good for you, if you're bi. But no one ever said bisexuals can't be happy with the opposite sex - that's the definition of bisexuality. Attendees at that conference, however, have nothing to do with the point you're making. I believe they are people who are very distressed by the fact that they're gay, have a psychological issue with being gay, and it's a very sad thing. But it has nothing to with bisexuality, well, other than the fact that those who claim to "cured" (which in fact, the "ex-gay" groups don't actually claim to be able to do) were, I believe, simply bisexual, or perhaps 60-40 on the Kinsey scale and living their life a 40.
The fact that you find someone else's civil rights victory a negative, and somehow all about you, is just very sad for what it says about you. You're a guy who like girls, great. Most "gay" people don't - and certainly not as much as they like guys. So stop pretending you somehow represent the majority of gay people when, I believe, you represent the majority of bisexuals. And even then...
Either I am a gay man in love with a woman, or Love Won Out was able to "cure" me of being gay. I have made no claim either way, nor have I tried to present myself as representing any type of majority. Indeed, I feel much like a minority. I know a lot of the men who attend the conference who are happily married to their wives. Marital bliss does not center around sex. Let us be!
My complaint with Iowa's decision was not that it gave same-sex couples the right to marry, but that it puts us in the closet. It feeds the ignorance and bigotry from people like you who think people like us are really not happy underneath. I have lots of other friends in similar situations. Many are afraid to come out, because people will say they aren't being true to themselves. Many can't even tell their wives for fear that they will leave them. I even have friends whose wives left them when they found out they were gay. Like I said, I wish they could have just said that anyone should be able to marry anyone they chose rather than saying I am incapable of loving my wife.
I agree with GBC just below. Take your meds...and take a hike.
sitemonitor
Damn Conservatives.
Ironic that it's their blessed General Conference this weekend.
I also live in Utah... and its currently snowing on their "Mormon Parade."
Way to go, Iowa!