Stories

The Iowa Supreme Court heard oral arguments a week ago today in Varnum v. Brien, a case that puts the state’s definition of marriage as between one man and one woman into question.  At issue throughout the arguments was which standard the court should use to evaluate whether the Iowa statute that prevents same-sex couples [...]

A national voice in conservative Christian politics resigned Thursday from the National Association of Evangelicals after admitting to a radio host that he was “shifting” on the issue of gay marriage.
Rev. Richard Cizik told National Public Radio on Dec. 2 that he would “willingly say that I believe in civil unions. I don’t officially support [...]

There is distinct frustration in the voices of Iowa social conservatives as they talk about the possibility of the Iowa Supreme Court striking down the state’s 1998 Defense of Marriage Act and allowing same-sex couples to wed.

DES MOINES — Now that the Iowa Supreme Court has finished hearing oral arguments in the same-sex marriage case Varnum v. Brien, much will be written about what each side had to say to the court’s panel of justices.  But equally important is what did not happen at the courthouse today.

“Once you decide the standard, the outcome may be controlled by that standard,” said Mark McCormick, a Des Moines attorney who served on the Iowa Supreme Court from 1972 to 1986.

The state’s next turn in the national spotlight begins on Tuesday, Dec. 9, when the state Supreme Court hears arguments on same-sex marriage in a legal battle that’s three years in the making.

U.S. Rep. Steve King, R-Iowa, says the gay marriage issue — which played a pivotal if not decisive role in the 2004 presidential election — is lurking for November.
King told CNSNews.com that Iowans care deeply about preserving traditional marriage and the issue is likely to mobilize voters:
“Here we are with the Democratic National Party conducting [...]

The vote count is close on the question of gay marriage in the Iowa Legislature, but the personal feelings are overwhelming, according to a Des Moines Register survey published Sunday. Only six legislators — three senators and three representatives, all Democrats from urban districts — answered no when asked "Do you believe marriage should be [...]

This story is a collaborative effort between Iowa Independent and Huffington Post’s OffTheBus Project.  As part of our investigation, OffTheBus members spoke with more than a third of Iowa’s Republican county chairs. The team was coordinated by Theresa Weathers and Steven Greenberg, and interviews were conducted by Kirsten Anderson, Mariangela Anzalone, Robin Carpenter, Adam Dancy, [...]

(Disclaimer: In no way, shape or listless form is this column intended to threaten the sanctity of marriage. No legal unions between men and women dissolved during the writing process. Nonetheless, some readers should proceed with caution if their faith in the sanctity of marriage is threatened by external forces such as the gay marriages [...]