Marriage Equality Advocates Reach Out to IowansJan 19th, 2012Gay marriage proponents don't use that term. They just call it marriage. And they want most Iowans to think of it the same way.
With an anti-gay-marriage amendment seemingly a dead issue at the state Legislature this year, same-sex marriage supporters are shifting gears from winning over politicians to winning the hearts and minds of Iowa's general public.
Last year the Iowa... read_more Iowa Gay Couple Sick of Republican Attacks on Marriage EqualityJan 3rd, 2012The 2012 presidential election campaign has been personal for John Sellers and Tom Helton.
Several candidates in the race for the Republican nomination have pledged to end their same-sex marriage -- and the marriages of gay and lesbian couples in Iowa and throughout the country -- via constitutional amendment.
In an interview with the Washington Blade, Sellers, 51, a remote engineer for... read_more Has the GOP Even Read the Iowa Gay Marriage Decision?Dec 31st, 2011Now that the campaign is ending in Iowa, here's a question: Why have the candidates gone around the state bashing the Iowa Supreme Court decision that said persons of the same sex have the right to marry one another? For that matter, why have their fundamentalist and evangelical supporters been bashing it?
Perhaps it's time -- after 2 years -- for... read_more Iowa: The National Organization for Marriage Attacks Ron Paul on Marriage Equality PositionDec 28th, 2011The National Organization for Marriage, a leading social conservative group that is opposed to giving same-sex couples the right to marry, is striking out at Representative Ron Paul with a new television advertisement, a move intended to blunt the Texas congressman's rise in the polls a few days before the Iowa caucuses.
The group is just one of the many conservative... read_more Did Bob Vander Plaats Sell Family Leader Endorsement to Rick Santorum?Dec 23rd, 2011Bob Vander Plaats' endorsement of Rick Santorum has produced a backlash among conservatives in Iowa, some of whom are accusing the FAMiLY LEADER president of engaging in "pay for play" schemes and selling his coveted support to the highest bidder. Earlier this week, Santorum admitted that Vander Plaats approached the campaign with an indirect solicitation of money to help promote... read_more Rick Santorum Gets Family Leader EndorsementDec 21st, 2011The FAMiLY Leader's Bob Vander Plaats and Chuck Hurley of the Iowa Family Policy Center have endorsed conservative values stalwart Rick Santorum for president, who, despite a strong record of opposing abortion rights and marriage equality, has failed to gain any significant traction in the state.
Santorum is also the only GOP presidential candidate to campaign in all 99 of Iowa's... read_more Former Governor Tom Vilsack Approves of Marriage Equality - In IowaDec 17th, 2011Former Iowa Governor and current Secretary of Agriculture Tom Vilsack praised the establishment of same-sex marriage in his state -- but stopped just short of endorsing it nationwide.
"I appointed the judges -- most of the judges -- that made that decision. I think it was a good decision," Vilsack said about the 2009 Iowa Supreme Court case that legalized gay... read_more Iowa's Only Openly Gay Senator Fears GOP Wins in 2012Dec 9th, 2011The only openly gay member of the Iowa State Senate believes marriage equality in the state could "absolutely" be in danger, despite a recent win solidifying a Democratic majority in the chamber for the remainder of the year.
State Sen. Matt McCoy, who's served in the legislature since 1993 -- first as a House member and then as a senator --... read_more Gay Marriage Netted Iowa $13 MillionDec 7th, 2011
A new report from the Williams Institute shows that just one year of marriage equality in Iowa had great financial benefit for the state.
In the 12 months after the Iowa Supreme Court overturned the ban on same-sex marriage in April 2009, wedding arrangements and tourism by same-sex couples and their guests generated between $12 million and $13 million in spending,... read_more 58% of Iowa GOP Voters Support Civil Unions or Marriage EqualityDec 7th, 2011
JMG reader Matthew points out that buried way down in the latest New York Times poll we learn that 58% of Iowa's "likely GOP caucus goers" support either full marriage equality or civil unions. We'll wait here while the hate groups report that little nugget.
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Click here for gay wedding resources in Iowa. ... read_more Mitt Romney Burnishing Anti Gay Marriage Credentials for IowaNov 28th, 2011
With just 36 days to go until the Iowa caucuses, Mitt Romney's first campaign brochure in the state presents the former Massachusetts governor as "the strongest Republican to beat Barack Obama and protect our values."
Romney is "pro-life," "pro-marriage," and "pro-family," the flyer boasts, highlighting his opposition to abortion and support for "a federal amendment to define marriage as between one... read_more Iowa GOP Senate Minority Leader Continues Anti Marriage Equality PushNov 26th, 2011Mapping strategy. Iowa legislators looking ahead to January's new legislative session and next November's general election. A conversation with two state senators, democratic majority leader Mike Gronstal and republican minority leader Jerry Behn on this edition of Iowa Press.
Glover: Senator Gronstal, way too many issues and way too little time. Last session you refused to allow debate... read_more Iowa Lesbian Couple Just Wants Wedding Cake Debacle to EndNov 20th, 2011After Trina Vodraska and Janelle Sievers were denied services by Victoria Childress, the owner of Victoria's Cake Cottage in Des Moines, Iowa, last week -- and were chastised about their sexual orientation and their upcoming wedding -- firestorm or protest broke out from LGBT folks and allies. Childress has since made multiple local and national media appearances.
Yesterday, Vodraska and Sievers... read_more Gronstal Re-Iterates Promise to Block Gay Marriage Repeal in Iowa SenateNov 17th, 2011A proposed constitutional amendment banning gay marriage in Iowa will again be a topic during the legislative session beginning Jan. 9, but the top Senate Democrat said Thursday he would block debate over the issue.
"People's rights should not be put to a popular vote," said Senate Majority Leader Michael Gronstal, D-Council Bluffs. "We didn't put slavery to a vote of... read_more Iowa Baker Refuses to Make Wedding Cake for Lesbian CoupleNov 14th, 2011Lesbian couple Trina Vodraska and Janelle Sievers went to Victoria Childress for their wedding cake. At a taste-testing appointment they were told that she wouldn't do it for them because it conflicts with ther Christian beliefs.
Said Childress: "I didn't do the cake because of my convictions for their lifestyle. It is my right as a business owner. It is my... read_more Protecting Gay Marriage in IowaNov 11th, 2011A little-noticed special election earlier this week in Iowa had far-reaching consequences for the future of marriage equality. Liz Mathis's victory will keep Democrats in the majority, ensuring that same-sex marriage will not be overturned anytime soon. The Prospect spoke with Troy Price, executive director of One Iowa, the state's leading LBGT-rights organization.
Why was the race important, and how was... read_more The National Organization for Marriage Speaks Out About Iowa Senate Race LossNov 10th, 2011'We shall fight them in the fields! We shall fight them on the seas! We shall fight them where we find them! They can take our lives, but they can never take our PIZZA!"...oh wait, that's Herman Cain's speech. The National Organization for Marriage has pledged today to continue to push to repeal marriage equality in... read_more Iowa Democrats Keep Control of Senate, Can Continue Blocking Gay Marriage RepealNov 9th, 2011The Iowa Senate will remain under the control of a slim 26-25 Democratic majority when it reconvenes in January 2012. Liz Mathis, 43, won a clear victory in a special election Tuesday by earning 13,184 votes or 55.8 percent support, according to the Linn County Auditor's Office.
Cindy Golding, her Republican opponent garnered 10,283 votes or 43.52 percent support. The Constitution... read_more Voters Discount Role of Gay Marriage in Iowa Senate RaceNov 7th, 2011Only 11 percent of voters see gay marriage as an important factor in the Iowa Senate contest between Liz Mathis and Cindy Golding.
A Public Policy Polling survey released Sunday shows Democrat Mathis ahead of her Republican rival 52 to 46 percent.
Pollsters also asked: "Is the gay marriage issue the most important factor influencing your vote or not?" Eleven percent said... read_more
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