"Our liberties we prize and our rights we will maintain"
This is the Iowa State Motto. It was cited in the Iowa Supreme Court Ruling that lifted the ban on gay marriage in the state of Iowa. The Supreme Court recognized the duty to uphold the state constitution and ensure equal treatment under the law. Iowa was one of the first states to recognize interracial marriages, and again, this sleepy mid-west state surprised the nation when it was among the first to allow marriage between same sex partners.
Since the decision, commercials online and on the air have advertised "weddings for all," many of my gay friends speak openly of getting married and many of my disapproving friends remain reticent when the topic surfaces. Everyone has an opinion whether it is expressed or not.
Sunday, I attended a wedding for a gay couple. While having already exchanged their vows under the care of a Quaker meeting in an adjacent state, that state did not recognize the marriage legally. So, they came to Iowa. This was the first legally recognized gay marriage under the care of an Iowa meeting. In a way, all in attendance witnessed history on Sunday.
As tradition, the couple rose out of the silence to exchange vows, kissed and signed the certificate. The certificate was read aloud to all in attendance by the clerk. Inspirational ministry was both spoken and sung. One Friend spoke of the distractions that can arise during a marriage and paralleled it to distractions that arise during meeting. Another Friend was led to sing "Just a Closer Walk With Thee." The couple held hands and frequently smiled at each other, at their family and to themselves. A spirit of love was present. Afterwords, all attenders signed the certificate as witnesses to the wedding. It was a special occasion for all, even the two visitors who just happened to show up to a Quaker meeting for the first time that Sunday morning. Afterwords, we celebrated with a potluck and fellowship.
While not an overtly patriotic person, I can say that this Independence Day weekend made me proud to live in a state where liberties are prized and rights are maintained...for all.
Blogs of Note
About Me
- Karoline
- Here you'll read musings of a forty-something woman trying to find sense and make sanity. Writing for pleasure was a casualty of my PhD years. Academic writing killed a lot of my inspiration and joy for the written word. Some of you followed my grad life as I clung tooth and nail to some semblance of sporadically managed blog. Many of you who've known my past writing and poetry still ask about it. Even though I mumbled some excuse about not having time to write, your inquiries were gentle reminders of what I have to share and that people want to listen. So, here is my new blog, six years in the making: The Tao of Karoline. I'm not out for clicks or traffic. I'm not giving advice, or cultivating "my personal brand"; there's enough of that in the world. I'm just writing...because I enjoy it, again, finally...and thought some of you might too.
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