Same-sex marriage in the U.S. state of Iowa became legal on April 3, 2009. Iowa’s first dealings with same-sex marriage came in 1998, after recent court cases on same-sex unions, starting in Hawaii, found that denying the right to marry to same-sex couples was incompatible with the Equal Protection Clause of the state constitutions of most states. Iowa legislators hurried to pass a local Defense of Marriage Act to prohibit marriage between gay and lesbian couples to avoid a similar court challenge.
In 2005, Lambda Legal filed a lawsuit on behalf of six Polk County same-sex couples and their children who were denied marriage licenses in Iowa, arguing that this denial violated the liberty and equal protection clauses in the state constitution. In 2007, the Polk County District Court ruled in favor of the couples, prompting the county to appeal to the Iowa Supreme Court. On April 3, 2009, the Iowa Supreme Court unanimously upheld the District Court’s ruling holding that there was no important governmental interest in denying citizens marriage licenses based on their sexual orientation. Licenses were originally to be available 21 days after the ruling, on April 24, but the availability of licenses was subsequently postponed until April 27 due to a Furlough day.
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Bliss Weddings
I am a non-denominational ordained minister located in Northwest Iowa near Sioux City
Hawkeye Notary and Officiant Services
Welcome to Hawkeye Notary. I am also an ordained non-denominational Minister ordained through the Universal Life Church.
Blessed Unions
I am an Ordained Non-Denominational Minister, that performs Wedding Ceremonies for the public in Iowa, Minnesota and Wisconsin.
Inclusive Life
Wedding Officiants & Premarital Coaching…serving Iowa and Nebraska since 2009.
Iowa Gay Weddings
Your resources for same-sex weddings in Iowa
Midwest Minister
Various Ceremonies Offered
NE Iowa
Wedding Ceremonies ~ Vow Renewals ~ Commitment Ceremonies. Non-denominational, Interfaith, Civil. SE Minnesota, NE Iowa and Western Wisconsin. Winona, MN
Rev. Barbara Woods
Wedding Officiant
Sacred Rites
I am a Pagan Minister serving the Des Moines Area. I available for Handfastings/Weddings for all.
Signature Ceremonies LLC
Signature Ceremonies proudly serves western Iowa.
Willow Tree Wedding Services
We perform the ceremony you have always wanted at a reasonable cost. We will travel to your venue (mileage charged outside the Cedar Rapids, Metro area).
595.10 Who may solemnize.
Marriages may be solemnized by:
1. A judge of the supreme court, court of appeals, or district court, including a district associate judge, associate juvenile judge, or a judicial magistrate, and including a senior judge as defined in section 602.9202, subsection 1.
2. A person ordained or designated as a leader of the person’s religious faith.
Section History: Early form
[C51, § 1472; R60, § 2524; C73, § 2193; C97, § 3145; C24, 27, 31, 35, 39, § 10436; C46, 50, 54, 58, 62, 66, 71, 73, 75, 77, 79, 81, § 595.10; 81 Acts, ch 188, § 1]
Section History: Recent form
83 Acts, ch 159, § 1; 87 Acts, ch 115, §69; 95 Acts, ch 92, § 3
Internal References
Referred to in § 595.12