Iowa Gov. Hopes For Speedy Gay Marriage Ruling

Iowa Gov. Hopes For Speedy Gay Marriage Ruling

by 365Gay.com Newscenter Staff
Posted: January 22, 2008 - 5:00 pm ET
(Des Moines, Iowa) Iowa Gov. Chet Culver (D) says he hopes the state Supreme Court will soon deliver a ruling on same-sex marriage. And he said that if the court should uphold a lower court ruling that struck down Iowa's ban on gay marriage he will press the legislature to speed through a constitutional amendment.
The governor also suggested that if the court ruling comes down after the legislature adjourns he could call a special session to deal with the amendment.
"We'll do whatever it takes to protect marriage between a man and a woman," Culver told the Associated Press.
Six same-sex couples filed a lawsuit in challenging a state law that limits marriage to opposite-sex couples.
Last August Polk County Judge Robert Hanson struck down Iowa's 1998 Defense of Marriage Act ruling that it violated the constitutional rights of due process and equal protection.
Hanson then stayed the ruling to allow for an appeal to the Supreme Court. The high court is expected to take up the issue this year.
On Thursday several hundred people marched outside the Iowa Capitol demanding lawmakers endorse an amendment to the state constitution to ban same-sex marriage. (story)
The demonstration came days after Republicans demanded that Democrats who control the legislature take up the proposed amendment. (story) House Speaker Pat Murphy (D) said he is in no rush to bring in legislation.
To amend the Iowa Constitution simple majorities are needed in both the House and Senate in two consecutive general assemblies and then it must be approved by a simple majority of voters in the following general election.
If a resolution were approved this year and in the 2009 or 2010 session, it could be placed before voters in November 2010.
In a separate case on Friday the Supreme Court ruled that co-adoptions by same-sex parents were legal. (story)
The case involved a lesbian couple who had split up. While they were together one partner had adopted as a co-parent the children of her partner. When the relationship ended the birth mother asked a court if the other woman had visitation rights and could be compelled to pay child support.
A lower court ruled that co-adoptions by same-sex couples were illegal and threw out the case. The Supreme Court disagreed and ordered the lower court to revisit the case.
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