THREE YEAR ANNIVERSARY OF GAY MARRIAGE IN IOWA: Varnum v. Brien decision brought marriage equality to the Midwest/U.S.A.

¨Gay marriage celebrated its third anniversary in Iowa on Tuesday.


In was on April 3, 2009 that the Iowa Supreme Court handed down its unanimous Varnum v. Brien decision which brought marriage equality to the Midwest.

The following year, angry social conservatives successfully campaigned to oust three judges off the bench. The Republican-led House last year approved a constitutional amendment which would define marriage as a heterosexual union, but Democrats have blocked the measure in the Senate.

For Erin and Rachel Dobb-McConnell, who are raising two children, the ruling has changed their lives.

“It's very fulfilling.” Erin told Des Moines ABC affiliate WOI. “We're very proud of our family and our children. We can go to school and they have a married couple as their parents.”

The couple, who fell in love 12 years ago, married one month after the ruling was handed down.

“My marriage hasn't changed their lives at all but it sure has changed mine,” Erin said of marriage equality opponents.

“Absolutely,” Rachel added. HERE

Massachusetts will celebrate eight years of marriage equality next month.

·  Thanks to On Top Magazine, sidebar