Representatives from three Iowa regional tourism bureaus flew to California to let same-sex couples attending Gay Days at the Disneyland Resort know that they are welcome in the Hawkeye State.

The annual Anaheim event, which is neither sponsored nor discouraged by Disney, hosts roughly 30,000 attendees.

Eric Heinkel, left, and Joe Jennison staff a booth promoting Iowa to gay couples who want to get married. (Photo courtesy of Paul Rodriguez, The Orange County Register)

Eric Heinkel, left, and Joe Jennison staff a booth promoting Iowa to gay couples who want to get married. (Photo courtesy of Paul Rodriguez, The Orange County Register)

Eric Carpenter of The Orange County Register reports that the Iowa booth allowed potential newlyweds to sample wedding cake, receive brochures and other tourism materials and pose for photos inside a frame that read, “Just Married … In Iowa City!”

The Iowa representatives took the free photos and supplied the tuxedo jackets and bridal veils. They also handed out brochures touting Iowa City, Cedar Rapids and Coralville, among other cities.

“We want people to know that if the California Legislature is unwilling to take the step to give gay couples the right to marry, then please consider coming to Iowa where we will gladly welcome you with open arms,” said Joe Jennison, executive director of the Iowa Cultural Corridor Alliance.

Jennison, who is gay, is originally from Iowa and lived in California – including Orange County – for 13 years before moving back to his home state in 2003.

“Even I thought I might be greeted as a gay man by bigots and closed-minded people,” he said. “But it turned out nothing could have been further from the truth. Iowa is a very progressive state.”

The booth also was staffed by Eric Heinkel, who is not gay, and is convention sales manager for the Iowa City Coralville Area Convention and Visitors Bureau.