Iowa Marriage Decision Due April 3

Written by Paul Schndler Friday, 03 April 2009 04:39

Sean Fritz and Tim McQuillan, Iowa's only legally married gay couple, scrambled last week to win that distinction.

In a long awaited ruling, the Iowa Supreme Court on April 3 is expected to release its ruling in Varnum v. Brien, a suit challenging that state's ten-year old statutory bar on marriage by same-sex couples. The court heard oral arguments in December on an appeal of an August 2007 marriage equality victory in a Des Moines trial court. A day and a half after the trial court ruled, it stayed its decision, pending appeal by the state.

During those 18 hours when same-sex couples had the right to marry there, two Iowa State University students in Ames, who had met on Facebook -- Sean Fritz, then 24, and 21-year-old Tim McQuillan -- obtained a waiver of the usual three-day waiting period and married in Des Moines.

The Supreme Court is expected to post its ruling at 8:30 a.m. Central Daylight Savings Time.

Gay City News will provide full coverage.