On gay marriage and Iowa

[tko_ak]

A lot of people were very surprised about the gay marriage ruling in Iowa. After all, we don't typically associate the midwest with progressive politics (yes, I know there are pockets, but you know what I mean). Iowa isn't exactly a red state, but it isn't really a blue state, either, and small rural communities tend to be socially conservative (or

Comments

[mathwhiz78]

I checked the Iowa constitution and it looks like it takes a majority of both houses to approve an amendment, in two consecutive sections of the legislature, followed by a majority of voters. So it would be in front of voters in 2012 at the earliest and would have to pass the Iowa House and Iowa Senate twice, and House Democrats have already lauded the decision.

[tko_ak]

Cool. Thanks for looking that up.

It always amazes me how easy it is to amend some state constitutions. It shouldn't be taken so lightly. So I'm glad it's more difficult to do in Iowa.

[mathwhiz78]

I had to look it up after one of my profs rained on my parade.

[vacant_thomas]

They like doing that, don't they?

Our Liberties We Prize and Our Rights We Will Maintain

[crasherwake]

Iowa is a swing-state with some liberal leanings. Yeah, parts of Iowa are typical middle America and it has its anti-gay people. But the cities are decently progressive. Iowa isn't what some people think it is. I think it's been misrepresented. People were so surprised when Iowa went for Obama, too, but if you paid attention it really wasn't surprising at all.

Senator Tom Harkin: "It will be hard for many in our state to accept,” he said. “But these people on the court are not left-wing people. They are mainstream individuals, and the opinion was unanimous. I daresay it is very representative of Iowa. And many Iowans may say, ‘If the Supreme Court said this, maybe I have to think anew.’”

Hopefully that's true. And as stated above me it will be a lot harder for this to be reversed. Hopefully Iowa will have none of that nonsense.

[crasherwake]

Iowa Senate leader rules out gay marriage debate

Meeting with reporters, Senate Majority Leader Michael Gronstal, D-Council Bluffs, was clear about proposals to begin the process of amending Iowa's constitution to overturn the decision.

"It will not come up," said Gronstal. "I have no intention of taking it up."

"The politics of it are I'm not going to put discrimination in the Iowa Constitution," said Gronstal. "That's a horrible idea. The people who are pushing the amendment are saying equal protection under the law -- except. I think that's unacceptable."

Imagine that! Gronstal is a decent human being.

[foxfirejesus]

This is the first time I've been so very glad to live in a state that's constitution is so difficult to change. It would take at least three years to get a constitutional amendment, and that process can't even begin until next year.