Iowa's Democratic State Legislative Leaders say ...

8 Words of Wisdom for Week Ending 4/10/2009 #4

Thanks to today’s decision, Iowa continues to be a leader in guaranteeing all of our citizens’ equal rights.

The court has ruled today that when two Iowans promise to share their lives together, state law will respect that commitment, regardless of whether the couple is gay or straight.

When all is said and done, we believe the only lasting question about today’s events will be why it took us so long. It is a tough question to answer because treating everyone fairly is really a matter of Iowa common sense and Iowa common decency.

Today, the Iowa Supreme Court has reaffirmed those Iowa values by ruling that gay and lesbian Iowans have all the same rights and responsibilities of citizenship as any other Iowan.

This isn't California. This isn't New England. This is the very "heart" of America. This is a small, agriculture state. These are not big time liberals. Their politicians tend towards the moderate, with many conservatives. Why then is Iowa a state where gay marriage is now legal?

I suspect the statement gets right to the heart of the matter. It is a matter of common sense and common decency. I think people are going to find, at least on this issue, more and more Americans supporting the position of the Iowa Supreme Court. Make no mistake, this is a huge step for civil rights in our nation, but it is just the next step and there are so many more to take. Still, it feels good to know we are on the right path.

Good job Iowa!

Source - The Democratic Strategist