One Giant Leap for Mankind

It's been a long time sinse I have read something that made me happy dance about my living room. This had me doing a jig with glee!

Iowa stepped up to the plate and smacked the racist ball out of the park.

An Iowa district court ruled Thursday that same-sex couples can marry based on the state constitution's guarantee of equal treatment, court documents show.
The ruling was in response to a December 2005 lawsuit brought by six same-sex couples seeking to wed. They were denied marriage licenses and claimed such treatment violates equal-protection and due-process clauses in the Iowa constitution.
The court also struck down a state law declaring valid marriages are only between a man and woman.
The Iowa District Court for Polk County advances the case to the Iowa Supreme Court which will make a final decision on same-sex marriage, according to Lambda Legal, a gay and lesbian legal organization representing the couples.
The 63-page ruling, written by Judge Robert Hanson states: "Couples, such as plaintiffs, who are otherwise qualified to marry one another may not be denied licenses to marry or certificates of marriage or in any other way prevented from entering into a civil marriage pursuant to Iowa Code Chapter 595 by reason of the fact that both persons compromising such a couple are of the same sex."
The law describing marriage as between a man and a woman, "constitutes the most intrusive means by the state to regulate marriage. This statute is an absolute prohibition on the ability of gay and lesbian individuals to marry a person of their choosing," Hanson wrote.

My son wrote a song that has the line, "Personality is all that I see." That one line sums up my hope for the world. Can you imagine a world where we didn't see color, religion - or even the lack of, sexuality, nationality? The world would not be perfect, but it would be wonderful!

I am hoping that the rest of the states embrace what is left of the Constitution and follows suit. I am hoping that is truly a "giant leap for mankind."

A toast to Iowa!