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Iowans Herald, Decry Gay Marriage Ruling

By Marie Morris,  Newser Staff
Posted Apr 3, 2009 5:15 PM CDT

Gay marriages will begin taking place in Iowa on April 24, the Des Moines Register reports. The state supreme court’s ruling today that prohibiting the unions is unconstitutional applies to Iowans as well as visitors, because the state has no residency laws for marriage. “I’m off the wall,” said a Democratic state senator who is gay. “I’m very pleased to be an Iowan.”

Meanwhile, opponents looked for ways to keep the marriages from going forward, but unless the legislature acts soon—and leaders have said they won’t—they’ll have to wait until 2012. The state senate’s top Republican called on the body to “immediately act to pass a constitutional amendment that protects traditional marriage.” And Gov. Chet Culver, a Democrat, declined to offer an opinion, saying he needed “to thoroughly review this decision.” (More Iowa stories.)

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