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On August 30th, 2007 an Iowa district court ruled that Polk County
must acknowledge the right of same-sex couples to marry, after determining
that the Iowa constitution requires equal treatment under the law. The
court ruled in the case of six Iowa couples in committed relationships
who had been denied marriage licenses. While the case will probably be
appealed to a higher court, OutFront Minnesota is encouraged by this
latest ruling in favor of marriage equality.
The ruling in Iowa is the first of its kind in the Midwest, following
rulings in favor of marriage or equivalent legal status in several other
states including Massachusetts, Vermont, New Jersey, Maine, Maryland,
Oregon, Hawaii, and Washington.
"This is a great ruling for same-sex couples in Iowa," said Ann
DeGroot, OutFront Minnesota Executive Director. "We're happy that a
court in that state has ruled on the side of equality. The
decision by our neighbors to the south does not mean, however, that
Minnesota is automatically next. It is against the law for same-sex
couples to marry in our state and there are no current court challenges
to that law."
The Minnesota Supreme Court already ruled against marriage equality
in 1971 so a court challenge here would be less likely to prevail. Said
DeGroot, "Given the current state of affairs in Minnesota, we will
continue to work legislatively for expanded protections for
same-sex couples and their families."
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