Sean Fritz and Tim McQuillan
Across the state of Iowa this morning, registrars will be preparing to hand out marriage licenses to gay couples for this first time since August 31, 2007, when gay marriage was legal for 4 hours. Sean Fritz and Tim McQuillan where the only gay couple to be married that day, but today they will be joined by hundreds, if not thousands, more same-sex couples.
One Iowa, the state’s largest LGBT rights organization, plans to monitor about 25% of all registrars using volunteer observers. The observers have been instructed to assist same-sex couples in navigating the legal process, and presumably, to keep tabs on the registrars. They have been instructed not to engage protesters.
Cute Gay Couple
According to the Minneapolis Star Tribune, “Hundreds of couples from across Iowa and some from other Midwestern states have reported to One Iowa their intentions to marry. It’s unclear how many of those couples will be marrying today. Couples and One Iowa will celebrate tonight with champagne and wedding cake in Des Moines, the county seat for Polk County, where the lower-court case, Varnum vs. Brien, was originally filed in 2005.”
I would love to be in Iowa today to witness so many LGBT people on what will probably be one of the happiest days of their lives. I’m hoping to find a photo stream somewhere, and if I do, I’ll share it with you.