I'm feeling mighty proud, tonight, Iowans. Been invited to my first same-sex marriage!

[Condem]

A family friend who lives in Colorado comes to Iowa to teach every summer. She attended the Writer's Workshop here and this is like a second home. This summer she and her partner are celebrating twenty years together by getting married in Iowa this July. Tear in my eye, I guess. I'm humbled by the honor.

[Debi]

1. Cool - I'm hoping for an invite from a couple here in Waterloo

I'll be sad if we don't get invited :cry:

[Condem]

3. Please let me know what happens, Debi.

Best wishes!

[Peacetrain]

2. Congrats to your friends Condem...

July in Iowa is a hot hot time to get married.. literally! ...

[Condem]

4. Hey, Peace!

Is you're son home? We're all quiet here. Except for the street fights, of course. But, summer's here. Yeah, we're psyched! I'm genuinely touched!

[Peacetrain]

6. Yep he has been home all week..but will be back

in Iowa City on Tuesday.. I bet you really enjoy the quiet of summer.. My son, works on campus during the summer, and he says Ia City in the summer is a much quieter place!!

[Condem]

7. Very quiet, Peace.

Love it!!!

[progressoid]

5. OMG OMG OMG!! Steve King was right.

Iowa is becoming a gay marriage mecca!

Good for IOWA!! :applause:

And congrats to the happy couple! :hug:

[Condem]

8. Thanks, progressoid.

[Critters2]

9. I'm doing a church wedding here in Illinois tomorrow,

and going to Iowa with them in a couple of weeks to make it legal.

My assistant is chuckling about how different wedding planning is when there are TWO nervous brides! :)

[Condem]

10. Where in Iowa, Critters?

Just curious.

[Critters2]

13. Davenport. Maybe at one of two churches where I know the pastors,

maybe at a park. They'll basically restate their vows, with a prayer of blessing, since they will have already had the service.

[rurallib]

11. I have been amazed at the effect on hetero marriages all around Iowa

Just as the GOoPers predicted they are falling apart right and left.
Soon as I hear of one I will let you know.

[Condem]

12. Yessir, rural.

Falling apart. Just like the Democratic Socialist Party. I get a kick out of that one. Yeah, please let us know. Me wife and I are just fine, thank you very much! Still married.

[rurallib]

14. We went to a rally in IC that night and the gay didn't stick

we are still married. 35 years a couple days ago.
The next day we went to a legislative forum in Muscatine. Super asshole David Stanley brought the issue up and threatened any legislator who supported gay marriage that he would "take them out."
There were 5 legislators there and all were given a chance to respond. Sen. Courtney took a straight dead on shot at another legislator on the panel, Tom Sands of Louisa County. When his term came Courtney told the audience that if the legislature really cared about marriage they would outlaw divorce. A gasp literally went over the audience. Tom Sands divorced his long term wife about 4 years back and hitched on to a trophy piece. Sands was seething, so much so that he could not put together a complete sentence. He then used that moment to say he had to leave to get to his next meeting. Courtney was going the same place but he didn't leave. Maybe he drives faster.

Well for my part, I happened to be right in the path Sands took to the door. So as he passed me I hollered at him "Hey, Sands, what gives you the right to decide who people can love?" Sands pivoted and his eyes lit up. I said "Why don't you get your nose out of people's bedrooms and work on jobs and healthcare?"
Sands came over and jabbed my chest with his nose picking finger as he said "I'll tell you why. Because it is wrong and we have to stop it!"

Boy sometimes I can really hit a nerve with those assholes.
BTW for those of you who do not know who David Stanley is here is a quicky bio:
Son of Erma(sp) and Max Stanley who founded several large corporations in Muscatine, such as Stanley Engineering and HON Industries. Max also founded the Stanley Foundation which does some good work. Dave became a Republican and spent several terms in the Iowa legislature. in 1968 (I think) he lost a really close race to then Gov. Harold Hughes. To those who know Dave Stanley much better than me they say he never got over the loss.
Since then he and his wife have started the very right wing organization "Iowans for Tax Relief" which he uses as a bludgeon to keep Republicans in line because ITR is the major source of repug funds in Iowa. Until recently they did it covertly by using various Pacs to filter money through. A couple years ago they became much more open, taking out a couple of "moderate" republicans that they openly targeted. One was Maggie Tinsman in Davenport.
Stanley recently was also involved in a family money scandal. Seems he was selling off land owned in trust by the family in order to fund some right wing churches. The judgment was kept under wrapsand he spent no time in jail. For the lay folk, he committed grand larceny on his own family. This includes his kids who no longer speak to him from what I have heard.
If anyone has corrections on my version of the Stanley bio, please correct me.

[Condem]

16. I tell you what, rural.

It must of taken every ounce of anger management not to give Sands the back of your hand. Nice job. The thing is, these lunatics are all hypocrits. They all have enough skeletons in their closets to build a couple of nice size cages. Great story!

[progressoid]

18. The divorce argument seems to be a tough one for them to deal with.

It's such a simple and clear stance for anyone supposedly defending "traditional" marriage. But when confronted with the divorce issue, they all clam up. I've noticed on a few different websites, that most RWers ignore the topic of divorce rather than address it. Kinda hard for them to deal with.

[Bluzmann57]

19. You should have pressed charges

Sands assaulted you by poking his finger in your chest. It probably wouldn't go very far but think of the bad pub Sands would have gotten.

[Blue Gardener]

15. Has anyone checked for announcements in the papers?

I usually skip over the wedding announcements in the Gazette Milestone section. I'll have to check it out for gay wedding announcements. That should piss off the fundies when they have to look at the gay announcements next to the hetero announcements.

[Condem]

17. I read Milestones every Sunday and haven't seen one yet, Blue.

The Gazette editorial board is just a tad conservative. Wouldn't be surprised if they outright reject same sex announcements.

[Debi]

20. The Courier has them every Sunday

Not announcements but a list of license applications. Didn't set out gay/straight just listed em all in order of receipt.

[justgamma]

23. There was an announcement in

our little hometown paper, The Maquoketa Sentinal. Of course, the next week, they ran an antigay ltte.

[Condem]

24. Nothing ,yet, in The Gazette

When they do, it will truly be a Milestone.

[plantwomyn]

21. You should be proud.

And I thank you. We'll be there in July too! Getting married in Keokuk and staying in Montrose on the river. I intend to write "gay money" on all my cash, as will our whole party . So great to be able to get married within a 5 hour drive. Hope that soon hoosiers will be equal citizens too. Keep giving them hell and thanks again.

[Condem]

22. The wife (happy iowan) and I truly are, plantwomyn.

More importantly, though, sincere congratulations on your impending nuptual agreement. When my wife and I tied the knot, that's what the Judge called it.
Have a great time in Ioway, plantwomyn!

[happyiowan]

25. Just thought you might like to know. A milestone. In Milestones.

The very first same-sex marriage announcement in the Gazette, today. Just a small picture on Page 3. Nonetheless, there it was. Congratulations to the happy nuptuals from Marion due to tie the knot September 19th.

[Condem]

26. A Celebration of Marriage Tonight

Our friends got married today. The whole day was surprisingly emotional for them. They had this idea that it would be a formality. Decided only this morning, an hour before going to the courthouse, to write a few words for each other. The officiant of their ceremony read them a poem. She (the officiant) was so touched to marry two people who were so clearly committed to each other. Not a dry eye in the room. One of my friends had t-shirts made, "Just Married - July 16, 2009". Everywhere they went today, people stopped and hugged them and offered congratulations. At the restaurant tonight, they got the very best service, in a very best service, very lovely restaurant. A round of drinks on the house. Diners stopping by to offer their best wishes.

Iowa Citians made this day extra-special for our newlyweds. I am so proud.

[Blue Gardener]

27. This is why I love Iowa

There are a few bad apples, but the good apples make it a great place to live.
And, if this fantastic July weather is God's "punishment" for same-sex marriage, then God must be pretty happy with Iowa.

[Condem]

28. The weather IS fantastic, Blue.

Happyiowan is not happy. Being from Georgia she loves the heat and humidity. Me- I could go farther north to cooler climes. But I won't. We love Iowa and Iowa City too much.