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Brady St.., Milwaukee,WI 53202 414-272-2144 = www.bestd.org IOWA GAY MARRIAGES SET TO START APRIL 24 Wisconsin’s Next Door Neighbor Becomes First Midwest State To Offer Marriage Equality By Mike Fitzpatrick rights of equal protection, the high court wrote that Unlike what happened in California last year, the im - Des Moines - Thanks to a unanimous Supreme Iowa lawmakers had “excluded a historically disfa - pact of the Iowa ruling is expected to be not only Court ruling here April 3, gay marriages are now legal vored class of persons from a supremely important wide-ranging, but long-lasting. The county attorney in Wisconsin’s southwest neighbor Iowa who defended the law said he would not and are set to begin on or about April 24. seek a rehearing. The only recourse for In it’s landmark ruling, the high court opponents appeared to be a constitu - unanimously upheld a lower-court ruling tional amendment, which couldn’t get that rejected a state law restricting mar - on the ballot until 2012 at the earliest. riage to a union between a man and Senate Majority Leader Mike Gronstal, woman. By law, the court’s ruling takes ef - a Democrat, said state lawmakers were fect in three weeks. unlikely to consider gay marriage legis - Following the announcement of the rul - lation in this legislative session, which ing in Iowa, hundreds cheered, waved is currently set to end within weeks. rainbow flags and shed tears of joy at ral - Gronstal also told the Associated Press lies in seven cities. “Corn-fed and Ready that he’s “not inclined” to propose a to Wed!” read one man’s sign at a gather - constitutional amendment during next ing at the University of Northern Iowa in Cedar Falls. civil institution without a constitutionally sufficient year’s session either. In downtown Des Moines, Mayor Frank Cownie justification.” Without a vote by the Legislature this year or next, joined about 300 people gathered beneath rainbow “To issue any other decision,” the seven justices the soonest gay marriage could be repealed would be flags to celebrate. said, “would be an abdication of our constitu - 2014. Just as in Wisconsin, amendments to Iowa’s Marriage equality proponents in Wisconsin feel the tional duty.” constitution must be passed by the House and Sen - Iowa ruling will only help move forward the current Iowa has a history of being in the forefront on so - ate in two consecutive general assemblies, which domestic partner initiative in Governor Jim Doyle’s cial issues. It was among the first states to legalize in - each last two years, and then approved by a simple proposed 2009-10 budget now being discussed in terracial marriage and to allow married women to majority of voters during a general election. public comment sessions being held around the own property. It was also the first state to admit a However, should same-sex marriage opponents in Badger state. “The unanimous decision in Iowa rec - woman to the bar to practice law and was a leader in Iowa succeed in promoting a constitutional amend - ognizes the importance of allowing someone in a car - school desegregation. ment banning gay unions, the issue could become ing, committed relationship to care for and be However, Iowa Republicans and so-called “fam - central to the early part of the 2012 Presidential pri - responsible for their partner,” Fair Wisconsin Execu - ily” groups hope to limit the impact of the deci - mary season, with Iowa’s first in the nation presi - tive Director said in an email to supporters. “While sion by enacting residency requirements for dential caucuses. Mindful of that fact, “socially our state constitution prohibits same-sex marriage in marriage so that gay and lesbian couples from conservative” GOP presidential hopefuls were quick Wisconsin, Wisconsinites overwhelmingly share a across the country could not travel to Iowa to with a quip on the Iow ruling. commitment to fairness and decency for all couples. wed. Congressman Steve King (R-Iowa) urged the 2008 GOP Iowa Caucus winner Arkansas Gov - That is why we strongly support the domestic part - the state’s lawmakers to do so, claiming that he ernor Mike Huckabee characterized the ruling as nerships that are part of Governor Doyle’s budget.” feared without residency requirements Iowa “disappointing.” “All Iowans should have a say in Carlson later told WISC-TV’s Andy Choi that the would “become the gay marriage mecca.” this matter, not a handful of legislative judges. Iowa ruling wouldn’t do much to change Wiscon - The Iowa ruling was one of two positive news This issue is too important to not be made by the sin’s constitutional amendment banning gay marriage items for gay marriage equality proponents April people of Iowa,” Huckabee said. “It is my hope any time soon. “It would take several years for us to 3. In Vermont, the House of Representatives also that the Legislature will take the necessary steps get this amendment repealed, even if we started on it passed a measure that would allow same-sex cou - to properly resolve this matter.” today,” Carlson said. ples to wed, on a 94-52 roll call vote, just shy of Former Massachusetts Governor Mitt Romney, also Wisconsin’s leading gay marriage opponent - Ju - the two-thirds majority needed to override a considering a run in 2012, and notorious for flip-flop - laine Appling of the Wisconsin Family Council - char - promised veto by Governor Jim Douglas. Gay mar - ping on the gay marriage issue, also responded to the acterized the Iowa ruling as “judicial activism.” riage supporters hoped to convince a few Vermont ruling. “I believe marriage is a relationship between a In its ruling upholding the August 2007 decision by legislators to switch when it comes to the over - man and a woman and the definition of marriage a judge who found that a state law limiting marriage ride vote, which could be taken as soon as April 7, should be left to the people and not to activist to a man and a woman violates the constitutional after Quest’s printing deadline for this issue. courts,” Romney said. SWEDEN BECOMES 7TH Foundation’s Board Members, and women donors the specific needs of its LGBT clients. NATION TO ALLOW GAY who are paving the way to ensure we create a fair The Guide will also include short, reader-friendly ar - MARRIAGE and respectful community for all.” ticles on topics such as why LGBT people don’t ask Stockholm - By an overwhelming 226 to 22 vote Cadenas is the current executive director of the for help (and why we should); how to be your own April 1, the Swedish parliament recognized the right Cream City Foundation(CCF), which works for social best advocate; how to screen potential therapists; of same sex couples to marry in that nation. The new change on behalf of gay and transgender communi - survivors’ tips for safer dating; safety planning; heal - law permits gay and lesbian couples to wed in either ties in southeastern Wisconsin. Under her leader - ing from a trauma; how to support a victimized a civil or religious ceremony, though individual ship CCF launched the Gay Neighbor Media friend; and common homophobic and trans-phobic churches can opt out. The law will take effect May 1. Campaign (GayNeighbor.org). Cadenas also sits on power-and-control tactics used by intimate partner Sweden was one of the first countries to give gay the national board of Funders for Lesbian and Gay Is - abusers. FORGE expects to have the Guide ready for couples legal “partnership” rights, in the mid-1990s, sues and co-hosts the “Female Focus” radio show on dissemination at Milwaukee’s PrideFest in June.. and allowed them to adopt children from 2002. WMSE 91.7 FM. The show promotes women singers The project also provides for the development of a Sweden joins the Netherlands, Belgium, Canada, and musicians, including local bands. curriculum on the unique needs of LGBT victims of Spain, South Africa and Norway in providing same- Cadenas was formerly the Associate Director for the crime. This training will be offered to professionals sex couples full marriage equality. American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) of Wisconsin who work with crime victims during July and August and a former consultant for Accenture. She has 2009; if you are interested in being informed of the BISEXUALS, TRANSGEN - served on the board of Community Shares of Greater dates when they are set, please call 414-559-2123 or DERED PERSONS SOUGHT Milwaukee and Lesbian Alliance. send an email to [email protected] FOR ONLINE SURVEYS A graduate of Beloit College, Cadenas is currently FORGE needs volunteers to help compile and dis - Lexington - A study of the positive aspects of being pursuing her MBA from Alverno College. seminate the “Guide.” If you may be interested in a bisexual identified individual is seeking participants The Association for Women in Communications is helping, please call 414-559-2123 or send an email to answer a short survey.