Apr 27 2009
I Now Pronounce You Party A and Party B
The first same-sex marriage in Polk County under a Iowa Supreme Court order issued this morning could take place within the hour.
Melisa Keeton and Shelley Wolfe were the first same-sex couple with a license in hand at the Polk County administration building, and Judge Karen Romano granted the Des Moines couple a waiver to the three-day waiting period about 8:40 a.m.
After a bit of rumbling from some county recorders last week, Iowa Attorney General Tom Miller issued this statement:
“We expect duly-elected county recorders to comply with the Iowa Constitution as interpreted unanimously by the Iowa Supreme Court, the highest court in Iowa,” Miller said in a statement to the Iowa Independent. “Our country lives by and thrives by the rule of law, and the rule of law means we all follow the law as interpreted by our courts — not by ourselves. We don’t each get to decide what the law is; that would lead to chaos. We must live by and follow what the courts decide.”
“Recorders do not have discretion or power to ignore the Iowa Supreme Court’s ruling,” Miller said, adding: “If necessary, we will explore legal actions to enforce and implement the Court’s ruling, working with the Iowa Department of Public Health and county attorneys.”
To help celebrate this historic moment in tolerance and enlightened thinking, the DM Register posted a story about how the “religious backers of gay marriage” are celebrating.
“Marriage is a fundamental right for all people, not just straight people,” said the Rev. Matt Mardis-LeCroy of Plymouth Congregational United Church of Christ.
“What happens in Iowa is not just about Iowa,” he said. “Future generations will look back at this place, at this time, as the point when the tide started to turn.”
The Rev. Mark Davis, pastor at Heartland Presbyterian Church in Clive, said he will not marry same-sex couples because his church does not recognize gay marriage. Nonetheless, he voiced his support for “all of God’s children” to marry.
“We can all be a part of this beautiful sunrise,” Davis said. “I am in a denomination that will not allow me to marry same-sex couples, but I think same-sex marriage is a wonderful gift that has been too long denied.”
A number of the religious leaders who spoke said legalizing gay marriage will help reinforce the meaning of marriage.
“We’ve made a mess of marriage,” said Mardis-LeCroy. “Tomorrow you will show the whole world what marriage is meant to be. It starts tomorrow, right here.”
