Gay Marriage In Iowa

Here's a bit of good news. In a move similar to California's supreme court, Iowa's supreme court legalized gay marriage.

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20090403/ap_on_re_us/iowa_gay_marriage

Even better: unlike California it's not going to be overturned by consitutional amendment anytime soon.

"Senate Majority Leader Mike Gronstal, a Democrat, said state lawmakers were unlikely to consider gay marriage legislation in this legislative session, which is expected to end within weeks. Gronstal also said he's "not inclined" to propose a constitutional amendment during next year's session."

I was left scratching my head how such a conservative state would do something so progressive, but the article also explains that "Iowa has a history of being in the forefront on social issues. It was among the first states to legalize interracial marriage and to allow married women to own property. It was also the first state to admit a woman to the bar to practice law and was a leader in school desegregation."

Strategy

For two weeks now, the entire gay community has been mobilized against the passage of anti-gay measures in several states, Poposition 8 in California in particular.

http://www.nytimes.com/2008/11/16/us/16protest.html?pagewanted=1&_r=1&bl&ei=5087&en=719e1c29c315aea6&ex=1226984400

Great idea... except it's already passed! Much as it pains me to admit it, the fight's done and lost. Time to start thinking about the next one. And with that in mind, I have a little advice to any and all members of the gay community who may chance upon this... so listen up!

Why didn't you think of this sooner? Why weren't you holding these rallies in the two weeks before the vote on Nov 4th? It's entirely possible that if you had made this much noise before the vote, you just might have been able to sway enough people to your side to make Prop 8 fail! Next time there's a vote on gay issues anywhere in the country, think about how awful it feels right now to have your rights taken away from you, before the vote, and get out there it when it stands a chance of doing some good!