Iowa: "gender-neutral marriage bill" dropped from agenda.

[bluedawg12]

http://www.365gay.com/news/iowa-gender-neutral-marriage-bill-withers/
365 Gay

By Jennifer Vanasco
3.13.2009

(Des Moines, Iowa) Legislation that would make marriage gender neutral in Iowa appeared dead Friday after it was stripped from the list of measures to be take up by lawmakers this session.

Send / ShareAdd CommentWhile it remains possible the bill could reemerge near the end of the session, most political observers believe it has little chance of being taken up.

The bill was sponsored by Sen. Matt McCoy. It would have replaced the words that define a couple as husband and wife under Iowa’s marriage law with spouse.

With the bill failing to be marked up, same-sex couples are now pinning their hopes on the state Supreme Court. The court late last year heard arguments in a challenge to the state ban on same-sex marriage.

In 2007, Polk County Judge Robert Hanson struck down the state Defense of Marriage lawn declaring it to be unconstitutional. Later the same day Hanson stayed the ruling pending an appeal.

Arguing before the Supreme Court Assistant Polk County Attorney Roger Kuhle told the justices that Hanson had overstepped his authority.

Kuhle also said that state support of same-sex marriage would damage traditional marriage, arguing that it would indicate to future generations that marriage is no longer about procreation. :grr:

Lambda Legal attorney Camilla Taylor, representing the six couples who are challenging the ban on gay marriage, told the court that the law violates Iowa’s constitution.

Taylor said that the constitution protects gay people’s rights to due process and equal protection. There is no indication when the court will rule.

[greenkal]

1. Can these legislators be charged with a crime?

Why won't the cops do that? This is a hate crime. Why aren't these crooks in prison?

[bluedawg12]

2. More and more, it seems like it will be the Courts that will bring change

if anything will, at all. :shrug:

[TechBear_Seattle]

3. So marriage is about procreation, eh?

So make procreation a requirement for marriage, and prohibit legal marriage from anyone who cannot or will not procreate. And while we are at it, we should also make it a felony for anyone to procreate outside of marriage.