[Pacg] IA Judge: Legal marriage for all -CONTACT the Governor- press conf Tues

[Carolina 1961]

 *PROGRESS IN IOWA!!*
**
*Gay rights advocates and all who believe in equal rights for all won a
major victory Thursday when a Polk County District judge ruled that the
state's ban on gay marriage violates the Iowa Constitution* . *The PACG
Civil Rights Forum heartily endorses this action.*  The issue here is legal
civil marriage. One of the rallying points that those against this issue
have raised is no one should be able to force a church to perform any
ceremony it does not wish to perform.  There is no such law currently and
this would not be the result of opening legal marriage to same sex couples.
Currently any church can say yes or no to a couple approaching them to be
married based on their own criteria.  That would not change, but let's not
fight that battle since it is at this time a diversion.  *The issue is the
ability to have the rights and responsibilities provided by legal marriage
whether the couple is same sex or opposite sex.*

Governor Culver issued a statement opposing gay marriage (statement below).

*Action Alert*...call Governor Culver's office to let him know how you feel
about the legal right of everyone to marry...515.281.5211   email at
http://www.governor.iowa.gov/administration/contact/

Legislative leaders:
Email Senator Gronstal     michael.gronstal at legis.state.ia.us

and Rep. Pat Murphy..   Pat.Murphy at legis.state.ia.us



Also, email your own legislators;

Frank.Wood at legis.state.ia.us

joe.seng at legis.state.ia.us

david.hartsuch at legis.state.ia.us

Elesha.Gayman at legis.state.ia.us

Jim.Lykam at legis.state.ia.us

Steven.Olson at legis.state.ia.us

Jamie.Van.Fossen at legis.state.ia.us

Cindy.Winckler at legis.state.ia.us

* *
*PRESS CONFERENCE supporting the ruling at*
*11 AM Tues, Sept 4 in front of the Bicentennial Building  600 West 4th in
Davenport. with Rev. Roger Butts,   Rev. Ron Quay  AND  OTHER
LEADERS...PLEASE attend to show support ...*
Contact Roger for more details:  REVROGERB at MSN.COM

>From Roger Butts:

Dear friends,
As a member of the PACG Moral Values Forum, I believe that our people need
to know about this article! It's great news and a great day for marriage
equality!!!  A press conference is being planned for Tuesday--I'll keep you
posted.
http://www.qctimes.com/articles/2007/08/30/news/local/doc46d72aa4c7dda766698075.txt
Text Below...
I would urge all of our people to provide a comment of support for the court
ruling that found that the prohibition against gay marriage is
unconstitutional. I would esp urge those of faith who are supportive of
same-sex marriage to speak from their heart about why this is such a great
day.
 Letters to the editor:  opinions at qctimes.com ,
btubbs at northscottpress.com.,letters at qconline.com,letters at rcreader.com
,

Yours,
Roger
 Judge strikes down Iowa's same-sex marriage lawBy Dan Gearino | Thursday,
August 30, 2007   QC Times

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*TODAY: (Updated 3:44 p.m.) *DES MOINES – Gay rights advocates won a major
victory today when a Polk County District judge ruled that the state's ban
on gay marriage violates the Iowa Constitution.

"This court has yet to hear any convincing argument as to how excluding
same-sex couples from getting married promotes responsible reproduction in
general or by different-sex couples in particular. So far as this court can
tell (the law) operates only to harm same-sex couples and their children,"
said the ruling from Judge Robert Hanson.

The ruling says the law must be rewritten in a gender neutral manner to
allow same-sex couples to enter into civil marriage.

"This decision brings to life the Iowa Constitution's promise of equality
for same-sex couples and their families in Iowa," said Camilla Taylor,
attorney for Lambda Legal, the gay rights group that argued the case.

Sen. David Johnson, an Ocheyedan Republican, said he was disappointed but
not surprised. He was one of the co-sponsors of a bill that would have put
the gay marriage ban before voters as a proposed Constitutional amendment.
He said the ruling underscores the need to resolve this issue with voters,
not the courts.

"We should get this issue on the ballot as quickly as we possibly can," he
said.

The case will likely be appealed to the Iowa Supreme Court.

Dan Gearino can be contacted at 515-243-0138 and dan.gearino at lee.net.
Comment on this story at qctimes.com.

*STATEMENT FROM GOVERNOR CHET CULVER***

*(**Des Moines**)*  -  Below is a statement from Governor Chet Culver
regarding today's action by the Polk County District Court:



"While some Iowans may disagree on this issue, I personally believe marriage
is between a man and a woman.

I also believe in the rule of law and respect for the judicial process.  I
have not had the opportunity to review today's opinion from the Polk County
District Court.  I understand this ruling is one step that is subject to
appeal, up to and including the Supreme Court.  I will continue to follow
this matter closely as it continues through the judicial system before
determining whether any additional legislative actions are appropriate or
necessary."

Thanks,

Cath

*"Let us find health and vigor and hope, and the diseased portion of the
earth will fall behind of its own doing. For that we need no aggressive
strategic plans, no provocation of military hostilities, no showdowns." *George
Kennan
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