Iowa High Court Takes Up Gay Marriage Ban

... But conservatives, gays can't figure it out

(NEWSER) - At age 8, Andrew Sullivan asked his mother if God really was omniscient. Her affirmative reply terrified him: “Then there’s no hope for me, Mum.” Despite his success, conservatives, Catholics, and gay activists might agree—even though he belongs to each of their constituencies, Johann Hari writes in a More Intelligent Life profile of his friend and model-turned-blogger. More»

(NEWSER) - Gay marriages will begin taking place in Iowa on April 24, the Des Moines Register reports. The state supreme court’s ruling today that prohibiting the unions is unconstitutional applies to Iowans as well as visitors, because the state has no residency laws for marriage. “I’m off the wall,” said a Democratic state senator who is gay. “I’m very pleased to be an Iowan.” More»

Gov't could create civil unions, while marriage would be religious

(NEWSER) - Confirmations, bar mitzvahs—religious institutions mark a number of rites of passage, but marriage is the only one the government has mucked with. As the heated debate over gay marriage continues, two professors ask: Why not take the government out of the equation? Officially, any couple could have a civil union, and "marriage" would be left up to one’s place of worship, Time reports in a look at the idea. More»

U. of Wash. students fume over column's bestiality illustration

(NEWSER) - An opinion column denouncing gay marriage—and illustrated with an image of a man adjacent to a sheep—has many University of Washington students beside themselves and demanding sensitivity training for their student newspaper, reports The Seattle Times. The editor of The Daily has refused to apologize, citing the need for a “balance of viewpoints” in the paper. More»

Advocates and opponents of same-sex unions dig in

(NEWSER) - Iowa’s Supreme Court will review a state law banning gay marriage next month, the Los Angeles Times reports. A district judge last year struck down the Defense of Marriage Act on the grounds that it violated state constitutional rights of equal protection, but nine hours later that decision was appealed to the high court. More»