Gay marriage has its day in Des Moines as judge strikes down ban

[proud2BlibKansan]

By RICK MONTGOMERY
The Kansas City Star

At least 14 same-sex couples have applied for marriage licenses this morning in Polk County, Iowa, in the wake of a judge there striking down the state’s ban on gay marriage.

“As of today I’ve been directed by the county attorney to issue marriage licenses to same-sex couples,” said County Recorder Julie Haggerty, noting that the decision by Polk County Judge Robert Hanson may be be put on hold later in the day as the county attorney seeks an appeal. “It’s kind of a minute-by-minute thing.”

In the first such ruling of its kind in the Midwest, Hanson on Thursday declared Iowa’s decade-old prohibition of same-sex marriages “mean-spirited” and a violation of the state constitution. County attorney John Sarcone told the Associated Press he would appeal to the state Supreme Court, and he immediately sought a stay from Hanson that would prevent gay couples from obtaining a marriage license until the appeal is resolved.

Marriage licenses in Iowa’s largest county typically take three business days to process, but at least one couple today secured a waiver from a county judge allowing them to wed immediately.

more . . . http://www.kansascity.com/news/breaking_news/story/255572.html