iowa went where no man, woman, or child ever thought a middle-america state would go. yesterday, its supreme court unanimously overturned the state's ban on same-sex marriage. in the words of justice mark s. cady, "we are firmly convinced the exclusion of gay and lesbian people from the institution of marriage does not substantially further any important government objective... we have a constitutional duty to ensure equal protection of the law". yeah...
the more shocking news is that many iowans are outraged at this abomination. according to the ny times, one woman even exclaimed 'angrily' that she's "almost ready to up and leave iowa and move back to minnesota". whyzat, exactly? is minnesota more sympathetic to bigotry? i realize i'm a left-coast-big-city-latte-drinking (though i prefer a grande iced coffee in a venti cup with about a quarter cup of half and half)-liberal, and i can't really speak on behalf of iowans, but lady, i bet iowa won't miss you if you pack your intolerance and move up and over a state or two.
iowa chose yesterday against amending its constitution to discriminate against a group of its citizens. i hope my own state's supreme court thinks long and hard about following iowa's lead (as well as those of connecticut and massachusetts), because as hopeful as i am that it would only be a temporary set back for those of us fighting for equal rights for all californians, it would be a slap in the face from a state i know and love for its progressive march in the direction of better.
~k
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