Iowa's Married Same-Sex Couple Celebrates First Year of Marriage on the Anniversary of Lambda Legal's Victory

(Des Moines, Iowa, August 25, 2008) — August 31 will mark the one year anniversary of the first marriage of a same-sex couple in Iowa after Lambda Legal's victory in which a district court ruled that barring same-sex couples from marriage is unconstitutional.

" We congratulate Tim and Sean on their first year of marriage," said Camilla Taylor, Senior Staff Attorney in Lambda Legal's Midwest Regional Office in Chicago and lead attorney on the marriage lawsuit in Iowa. "We hope that all same-sex couples in Iowa who would like to marry will be able soon to enjoy the same wedded bliss and security that Tim and Sean have."

"We can't believe it's been a year already. It has been amazing, and while we knew before we were married that we were committed to each other, actually being married feels different — it is a special commitment," said Tim and Sean McQuillan. "We hope other same-sex couples in Iowa are allowed to experience the transformations that only marriage can bring to a relationship."

In December 2005, Lambda Legal filed a lawsuit with the Polk County Court on behalf of six same-sex couples who were denied marriage licenses in Iowa, arguing that denying marriage to same-sex couples violates the liberty and equality guarantees in the Iowa State Constitution. In August of 2007 the district court ruled that denying marriage to same-sex couples is unconstitutional. In March 2008, 15 friend-of-the-court briefs were filed supporting same-sex couples seeking the right to marry, and the right of their children to have the protection and support of married parents. Those briefs were signed by hundreds of Iowans including former Lieutenant Governors Joy Corning and Sally Pederson. To learn more about the briefs visit: http://www.lambdalegal.org/news/pr/iowa-amicus-filing.html. The final decision in this case will be made by the Iowa Supreme Court. The parties in the case are awaiting an oral argument date to be set by the Iowa Supreme Court.

The Iowa case is: Varnum v. Brien

Camilla Taylor, Senior Staff Attorney and Kenneth Upton, Senior Staff Attorney are handling the case for Lambda Legal. They are joined by former Iowa Solicitor General Dennis Johnson of Dorsey and Whitney in Des Moines.

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Lisa Hardaway 212-809-8585 ext. 266; Email: lhardaway@lambdalegal.org