Iowa has become the third state to allow gay marriage this week, after Massachusetts and Connecticut. New Jersey, New Hampshire and Vermont allow civil unions, and California briefly allowed gay marriage and then negated it in a controversial referendum last year. New York is looking toward recognizing gays who marry in other states, and New Hampshire and Vermont have this week seen their legislatures move toward the acceptance of gay marriage, although both states’ governors have indicated their opposition to such action.
The addition of Iowa, seen as a conservative rural state, taking this action toward gay equality, is inspiring and indicates that over an extended period of time it is likely that gay marriage, outside of religious institutions but endorsed civilly, is an inevitablity in much of the nation. It might eventually come up to the US Supreme Court for determination, with the possibility over time of change on the Court leading to backing of the concept, just as in 1967, after much opposition, interracial marriage was finally declared constitutional.
Iowa should feel proud of itself not only for this, but also for being the first state to see a largely white population back Barack Obama in its presidential caucuses, and start the President on the road to the White House. So Iowa is overcoming its past image and can been as a state promoting progress and change!
Gay marriage seems to be an inevitable despite 2/3 of the country being against it. Only time will tell how this issue play out.