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Marriage Equality

GOP Seeks Revenge on Pro-Equality Iowa Justices

Republican legislators in Iowa proposed an amendment that would cut the pay of four of the state Supreme Court justices who took part in a unanimous ruling in favor of marriage equality in 2009.

World

Religious Rallies Ensue in Support of Iowa's Same-Sex Marriage Ban

With efforts ranging from prayer rallies to political advocacy, Iowa churches are at the forefront of an escalating fight over a county judge's ruling that overturned the state's same-sex marriage ban. About 1,200 people from local churches joined hands and sang the civil rights anthem ''We Shall Overcome'' at a recent rally in Des Moines urging the Iowa supreme court to reverse the judge's decision. ''This is more than a political battle,'' said the Reverend Keith A. Ratliff Sr. of the Maple Street Missionary Baptist Church. ''This is a spiritual battle.''

Rally to Resist outside the Des Moines Iowa State Capitol in support of LGBTQ rights 2023

Politics

Iowa bans Medicaid from covering gender-affirming care for adults

The law prevents Medicaid from paying for hormone therapy or gender-affirming surgeries for trans people, but not for cis people.

New York City LGBTQIA pride parade Heritage of Pride March June 2025

News

iowa supreme court

'Devastated:' A six-week abortion ban will go into effect in Iowa next week

Health care practitioners in the state decried the ruling as a decision that "will push abortion care almost entirely out of reach in Iowa."

Iowa Supreme Court Judges Booted

Iowa Supreme Court Overturns $1.5 Million Antigay Discrimination Case

Justices said it was "pure speculation" that Rep. Gov. Terry Branstad knew of a former state official's sexual identity when he asked the Dem. employee to resign.

GOP Seeks Revenge on Pro-Equality Iowa Justices

Republican legislators in Iowa proposed an amendment that would cut the pay of four of the state Supreme Court justices who took part in a unanimous ruling in favor of marriage equality in 2009.

Iowa Supreme Court to Hear Oral Arguments in Gay Marriage Case

The Iowa supreme court is ready to hear oral arguments Tuesday in a gay marriage case that USA Today reports "could echo throughout the nation and be far more difficult to challenge at the ballot box than a high-profile ruling in California, legal experts say."

Iowa Supreme Court Upholds Hate Crime Conviction in Pride Flag Case

The court’s ruling reaffirmed the hate crime statute’s application to symbolic acts, balancing protection against hate crimes with free speech rights.

Frank Words for Anti Marriage Equality Groups from Iowa Supreme Court Justice

"If these organizations are really worried about marriage, rather than being motivated by bigotry and hatred, then they would be going after the divorce laws," former Chief Justice Marsha Ternus told the NYT's Frank Bruni.

Iowa High Court Recognizes Anti-Trans Discrimination in Historic Win

The Iowa Supreme Court's decision affirms that gender identity discrimination is prohibited by the state's civil rights law.

Caroline Kennedy Calls for Freedom to Marry Plank in Dem Party Platform

Kennedy will also honor three Iowa supreme court justices who ruled in favor of same-sex marriage.

Supporters File Briefs in Iowa Marriage Case

At least 17 friend-of-the-court briefs will be filed this week with the Iowa supreme court on behalf of six same-sex couples who are suing the state for the right to marry.

Laws Can Only Go So Far

Iowa's supreme court decision was a major victory for marriage equality. But it will take more than mere legal decisions for gays to win social approval.

Religious Rallies Ensue in Support of Iowa's Same-Sex Marriage Ban

Iowa bans Medicaid from covering gender-affirming care for adults

The law prevents Medicaid from paying for hormone therapy or gender-affirming surgeries for trans people, but not for cis people.

These 19 states won't ban marriage equality if Obergefell is overturned

Here are the 19 states where same-sex couples could still get married if Obergefell is overturned.

Transphobic discrimination legalized in Iowa

Iowa has stripped gender identity from its antidiscrimination law, making it the first state to remove any trait from such a statute.

Iowa’s six-week abortion ban is now in effect

The Iowa law bans abortions after cardiac activity is detectable in an embryo, something that can occur as early as six weeks of gestation. There are some exceptions to the ban, including for rape, incest and to save the life of the mother.

Bench Stregth Iowa Justices

Fourth Iowa Judge Becomes Target After Ruling in Favor of Marriage

New Campaign Calls to Retain Iowa Justice Who Voted for Marriage Equality

Justice Not Politics Action is pushing for voters to retain Justice David Wiggins, who has been targeted by a right-wing group over his support for marriage equality.

Iowa Republicans Seek to End Marriage Equality in State

Their effort is unlikely to succeed, but that's not keeping them from trying.

Iowa Marks Marriage Rulings First Anniversary

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iowa supreme court

Health care practitioners in the state decried the ruling as a decision that "will push abortion care almost entirely out of reach in Iowa."

Justices said it was "pure speculation" that Rep. Gov. Terry Branstad knew of a former state official's sexual identity when he asked the Dem. employee to resign.

Republican legislators in Iowa proposed an amendment that would cut the pay of four of the state Supreme Court justices who took part in a unanimous ruling in favor of marriage equality in 2009.

The Iowa supreme court is ready to hear oral arguments Tuesday in a gay marriage case that USA Today reports "could echo throughout the nation and be far more difficult to challenge at the ballot box than a high-profile ruling in California, legal experts say."

The court’s ruling reaffirmed the hate crime statute’s application to symbolic acts, balancing protection against hate crimes with free speech rights.

"If these organizations are really worried about marriage, rather than being motivated by bigotry and hatred, then they would be going after the divorce laws," former Chief Justice Marsha Ternus told the NYT's Frank Bruni.

The Iowa Supreme Court's decision affirms that gender identity discrimination is prohibited by the state's civil rights law.

Kennedy will also honor three Iowa supreme court justices who ruled in favor of same-sex marriage.

At least 17 friend-of-the-court briefs will be filed this week with the Iowa supreme court on behalf of six same-sex couples who are suing the state for the right to marry.

Iowa's supreme court decision was a major victory for marriage equality. But it will take more than mere legal decisions for gays to win social approval.

The law prevents Medicaid from paying for hormone therapy or gender-affirming surgeries for trans people, but not for cis people.

Here are the 19 states where same-sex couples could still get married if Obergefell is overturned.

Iowa has stripped gender identity from its antidiscrimination law, making it the first state to remove any trait from such a statute.

The Iowa law bans abortions after cardiac activity is detectable in an embryo, something that can occur as early as six weeks of gestation. There are some exceptions to the ban, including for rape, incest and to save the life of the mother.

Justice Not Politics Action is pushing for voters to retain Justice David Wiggins, who has been targeted by a right-wing group over his support for marriage equality.

Their effort is unlikely to succeed, but that's not keeping them from trying.