Varnum v Brien decision on same-sex marriage expected Friday

by: desmoinesdem

Thu Apr 02, 2009 at 12:28:34 PM CDT

Bleeding Heartland user jpmassar went over the legal issues concerning Varnum v Brien here. Daily Kos user Osorio also wrote a good legal primer on this case.

Click here to read my summary of the main points from the oral arguments, along with some analysis of the hearing.

I'll put up a post as soon as I can tomorrow once the ruling becomes public.

Win or lose, One Iowa is planning to hold rallies in the following cities: Ames, Cedar Falls/Waterloo, Cedar Rapids, Council Bluffs, Decorah, Des Moines, Iowa City, Grinnell/Newton, Mason City, Quad Cities and Sioux City. Go here to sign up to attend one of these rallies.

UPDATE: I posted a press release from I'M for Iowa after the jump. Ed Fallon voted against Iowa's Defense of Marriage Act when he served in the Iowa House.  

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE    
Thursday, April 2, 2009        

MARRIAGE EQUALITY RULING EAGERLY ANTICIPATED

Tomorrow, we face what could be another historic day for Iowans concerned abo ut equality and fairness when the Iowa Supreme Court renders its decision in Varnum v. Brien. This case could provide marriage equality for all Iowans.

"Ten years ago," said Ed Fallon, "on the floor of the Iowa House I said, 'I believe strongly that what we are dealing with here is the defining civil rights issue of this decade.' Today, we're on the cusp of moving forward in a very significant way."  

"While this issue is about justice and fairness more than anything," said Lynn Fallon, "a decision allowing civil marriage for same-gender couples will provide numerous benefits to gay and lesbian families and to the state of Iowa. Children of same gender parents will have the security of stable two-parent families, recognized by law. Couples who choose to marry will be entitled to the same benefits heterosexual couples get when they marry in Iowa. Economically, Iowa stands to gain over $5 million dollars per year."

In the speech given in 1996 when the law being challenged was originally proposed, Ed Fallon said, "By singling out gay and lesbian marriages as a union unacceptable in the eyes of the law, we fuel the fires of ignorance, intolerance, and hatred...There isn't a limited amount of love in Iowa. It isn't a non-renewable resource. If Amy and Barbara or Mike or Steve love each other, it doesn't mean that John and Mary can't. Marriage licenses aren't distributed on a first-come, first-served basis here in Iowa. Heterosexual couples don't have to rush out and claim marriage licenses now, before they are all snatched up by gay and lesbian couples."

"After so many years and so much work, it's exciting to see how far we've come toward full equality," said Lynn Fallon.

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