CONSERVATIVES FILE LEGAL CHALLENGE TO DISSOLUTION OF CIVIL UNION: Washington Blade

Socially conservative state lawmakers and religious officials are challenging an Iowa judge's decision to dissolve a lesbian couple's civil union by appealing to the state's Supreme Court.

The divorce, between Kimberly Brown, 31, and Jennifer Perez, 26, has caught the attention of gay rights opponents who say the ruling could open the door to Iowa recognizing same-sex marriages. Gay groups assert the ruling will not pose a challenge to the state's existing laws that have banned gay marriage since 1997.

...The Iowa Liberty & Justice Center, the legal arm of the Iowa Family Policy Center, filed an appeal on behalf of six Iowa legislators, two state religious leaders and U.S. Rep. Steve King (R-Iowa). The parties are arguing "couples who are civilly united are not married under Iowa law" and that Vermont law defines "marriage as the legally recognized union of one man and one woman."

...A few other states are also seeing similar legal challenges to civil unions performed out of state. An Indiana lesbian couple is facing the end of their Vermont-based civil union. And similar cases are cropping up in Connecticut, Texas and West Virginia.

Activists say that because of the legal ambiguities that come with civil unions, such a case underscores the need for gay men and lesbians to fight for marriage rights.

more
posted by Eve at 10:55 AM VOTE

0 Comments:

Post a Comment

<< Home