“Who would have thought, Iowa?”
It’s a question many around the state, and around the country, have asked since the Iowa Supreme Court overturned the state’s ban on same-sex marriage.
It’s the question “Dan,” a 47-year-old Kansas businessman asked when he heard the news of the court’s decision last April. Dan married his long-time partner in one of Iowa’s first same-sex weddings last June.
The wedding was not only one of Iowa’s first same-sex marriages, but one of the first in Fremont County. A friend who was ordained on the Internet performed the ceremony at Waubonsie State Park.
“We are 100 percent happy and so glad we did it,” Dan said.
“Until you have to fight for it, you take it for granted, but I never took it for granted.”
To date, around 20 same-sex couples have married in Fremont County, including a Hamburg couple. According to the Iowa Department of Public Health, the state has recorded over 2,000 same-gender marriages between April 27, 2009 and March 31 of this year, including 16 in Mills County, 210 in Pottawattamie County and 505 in Polk County, home to Iowa’s largest city, Des Moines. That’s at least ten percent (some have the gender recorded as “not listed”) of Iowa’s total marriages in that time frame.
Around 60 percent of the marriages listed as same-gender have been out of state couples, compared to only 14 percent of opposite gender marriages.
Recent same-sex marriages in Fremont County have involved couples from Sherman, Texas; Wichita, Kan.; and Kansas City, Mo.
Fremont County Magistrate Judge Dennis James has performed the majority of the same-gender weddings in Fremont County. He said couples contact him looking for a wedding location off the Interstate.
“They come a long way to get married, that shows a lot of commitment,” James said.
Dan’s wedding is one of several marriages that have been held at Waubonsie. James said he often selects that location for couples who come from a distance and are unfamiliar with the area.
While in Fremont County, Dan said he came to appreciate the area for more than its accessibility.
“The Fremont County people could not have been more friendly,” he said.
He describes Waubonsie as “absolutely beautiful” and said the Sidney town square is “something out of the movies.”
Dan said he and his partner, a doctor, had not given much thought to getting married until the Iowa Supreme Court ruling last year.
“When we got the opportunity, we said ‘Let’s do it,’” he said.
Currently, Massachusetts, Connecticut, Vermont, New Hampshire and the District of Columbia also issue marriage licenses to same-sex couples. The issue is once again being debated in California. States that do not have gay marriage are not required to recognize those marriages.
Dan said Californian’s overturning the state’s same-sex marriage law shortly after its passage motivated him and his partner to get married right away once Iowa changed its law.
“We thought, we should probably do it while we can,” he said.
The California Supreme Court ruled in 2008 that same sex couples have the right to marry, but voters passed Proposition 8 later that year which overturned the Court’s decision.
When the Iowa law passed, county judges were given the option to perform both same-gender and opposite gender marriages or no marriages at all.
“The state gave us the option to decline,” James said.
He said he never considered opting out.
“It’s my job as magistrate to do and enforce what state laws tell me to do,” he said.
James said he’s been happily married to the same woman for 32 years and believes that everyone should be able to marry whomever they choose.
“I feel like everyone has a right to love and be loved by anyone,” he said.
Dan said support for gay relationships was not as common during his youth, when he says there were no role models for gay young people.
“I didn’t know any gay people when I was in high school,” he said.
He lists actors such as Neil Patrick Harris, Nathan Lane and Sean Hayes (Will and Grace) as current role models in the gay community.
He said he is not an activist, but appreciates that people’s perceptions of gays are changing and homosexuality is more widely accepted than in the past.
“Times are changing. We aren’t in an Archie Bunker world anymore,” he said.
When Dan and his partner married, they received support from friends and family.
“People are happy for us,” Dan said.
Still, he said he wished to remain anonymous because some near his hometown in Kansas remain outspoken in expressing anti-gay sentiments.
Dan said he and his husband are proof that people’s perceptions of what it means to be gay are not always accurate.
“We’re not the flamboyant, stereotypical gay couple,” he said.
He said he doesn’t see any reason why same-sex couples shouldn’t be allowed to marry. “You can’t put a limit on who you love,” he said.
Dan said he’s grateful to Iowa and Fremont County for allowing he and his partner to make their union official.
“We are very appreciative of the state of Iowa for allowing us to get married because we never would have thought about it unless we had the opportunity,” he said.
“Thank you, Iowa.”
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“Who would have thought, Iowa?”
It’s a question many around the state, and around the country, have asked since the Iowa Supreme Court overturned the state’s ban on same-sex marriage.
It’s the question “Dan,” a 47-year-old Kansas businessman asked when he heard the news of the court’s decision last April. Dan married his long-time partner in one of Iowa’s first same-sex weddings last June.
The wedding was not only one of Iowa’s first same-sex marriages, but one of the first in Fremont County. A friend who was ordained on the Internet performed the ceremony at Waubonsie State Park.
“We are 100 percent happy and so glad we did it,” Dan said.
“Until you have to fight for it, you take it for granted, but I never took it for granted.”
To date, around 20 same-sex couples have married in Fremont County, including a Hamburg couple. According to the Iowa Department of Public Health, the state has recorded over 2,000 same-gender marriages between April 27, 2009 and March 31 of this year, including 16 in Mills County, 210 in Pottawattamie County and 505 in Polk County, home to Iowa’s largest city, Des Moines. That’s at least ten percent (some have the gender recorded as “not listed”) of Iowa’s total marriages in that time frame.
Around 60 percent of the marriages listed as same-gender have been out of state couples, compared to only 14 percent of opposite gender marriages.
Recent same-sex marriages in Fremont County have involved couples from Sherman, Texas; Wichita, Kan.; and Kansas City, Mo.
Fremont County Magistrate Judge Dennis James has performed the majority of the same-gender weddings in Fremont County. He said couples contact him looking for a wedding location off the Interstate.
“They come a long way to get married, that shows a lot of commitment,” James said.
Dan’s wedding is one of several marriages that have been held at Waubonsie. James said he often selects that location for couples who come from a distance and are unfamiliar with the area.
While in Fremont County, Dan said he came to appreciate the area for more than its accessibility.
“The Fremont County people could not have been more friendly,” he said.
He describes Waubonsie as “absolutely beautiful” and said the Sidney town square is “something out of the movies.”
Dan said he and his partner, a doctor, had not given much thought to getting married until the Iowa Supreme Court ruling last year.
“When we got the opportunity, we said ‘Let’s do it,’” he said.
Currently, Massachusetts, Connecticut, Vermont, New Hampshire and the District of Columbia also issue marriage licenses to same-sex couples. The issue is once again being debated in California. States that do not have gay marriage are not required to recognize those marriages.
Dan said Californian’s overturning the state’s same-sex marriage law shortly after its passage motivated him and his partner to get married right away once Iowa changed its law.
“We thought, we should probably do it while we can,” he said.
The California Supreme Court ruled in 2008 that same sex couples have the right to marry, but voters passed Proposition 8 later that year which overturned the Court’s decision.
When the Iowa law passed, county judges were given the option to perform both same-gender and opposite gender marriages or no marriages at all.
“The state gave us the option to decline,” James said.
He said he never considered opting out.
“It’s my job as magistrate to do and enforce what state laws tell me to do,” he said.
James said he’s been happily married to the same woman for 32 years and believes that everyone should be able to marry whomever they choose.
“I feel like everyone has a right to love and be loved by anyone,” he said.
Dan said support for gay relationships was not as common during his youth, when he says there were no role models for gay young people.
“I didn’t know any gay people when I was in high school,” he said.
He lists actors such as Neil Patrick Harris, Nathan Lane and Sean Hayes (Will and Grace) as current role models in the gay community.
He said he is not an activist, but appreciates that people’s perceptions of gays are changing and homosexuality is more widely accepted than in the past.
“Times are changing. We aren’t in an Archie Bunker world anymore,” he said.
When Dan and his partner married, they received support from friends and family.
“People are happy for us,” Dan said.
Still, he said he wished to remain anonymous because some near his hometown in Kansas remain outspoken in expressing anti-gay sentiments.
Dan said he and his husband are proof that people’s perceptions of what it means to be gay are not always accurate.
“We’re not the flamboyant, stereotypical gay couple,” he said.
He said he doesn’t see any reason why same-sex couples shouldn’t be allowed to marry. “You can’t put a limit on who you love,” he said.
Dan said he’s grateful to Iowa and Fremont County for allowing he and his partner to make their union official.
“We are very appreciative of the state of Iowa for allowing us to get married because we never would have thought about it unless we had the opportunity,” he said.
“Thank you, Iowa.”
We never thought that it would be possible.”
Dan said when he and his partner married, they received support from friends and family.
“People are happy for us,” he said.
He said such support for gay relationships was not as common when he grew up.
“I didn’t know any gay people when I was in high school,” he said.
He said during his youth, homosexuality wasn’t talked about and there were no role models for gay young people. He lists Neil Patrick Harris, Nathan Lane and Sean Hayes (Will and Grace) as current role models in the gay community.
Dan said he and his husband are proof that people’s perceptions of what it means to be gay are not always accurate.
“We’re not the flamboyant, stereotypical gay couple,” he said.
He said he is not an activist, but appreciates that people’s perceptions of gays are changing and homosexuality is more widely accepted than in the past.
“Times are changing. We aren’t in an Archie Bunker world anymore,” he said.
He said he doesn’t see any reason why same-sex couples shouldn’t be allowed to marry. “You can’t put a limit on who you love,” he said.
“Thank you, Iowa. We never thought that it would be possible.”
“We are very appreciative of the state of Iowa for allowing us to get married because we never would have thought about it unless we had the opportunity.”
The former Disney employee said he came to appreciate the area for more than it’s location.
“They come a long way to get married, that shows a lot of commitment,” he said.
A female Hamburg couple married last year.
last year, but most of the couples reside in other states.
He said he has chosen Waubonsie as the wedding location for a number of couples who are unfamiliar with the area and want a location off the Interstate.
“The Fremont County people could not have been more friendly,” he said.
recorded 16 marriages between April 27, 2009 and March 31 of this year and
Many of the weddings have been held at Waubonsie State Park, including Dan’s.
The couple is one of around 20 same-sex couples to have married in Fremont County since gay marriage was legalized.
A year later, around 20 same-sex couples have the tied the knot in Fremont County.
This is the question asked by “Dan,” one of the first gay men
This is a question many have asked since the state’s Supreme Court overturned the state’s ban on same-sex marriage.
These are thoughts of “Dan,” a 47-year-old businessman from Kansas who married his long-time partner in one of Fremont County’s first same-sex weddings last June.
These are thoughts of “Dan,” who married his long-time partner in one of Fremont County’s first same-sex weddings last June.
It’s been over a year since the Iowa Supreme Court overturned the state’s ban on same-sex marriage. As of June 29, 2010, around 20 same-sex couples have the tied the knot in Fremont County. The majority of the couples have been female.
Last year, a female Fremont County couple married, but most of the couples reside in other states. Recent marriages have involved couples from Sherman, Texas; Wichita, Kan.; and Kansas City, Mo.
“Dan,” a 47-year-old male from Kansas, married his long-time partner at Waubonsie State Park in June of 2009.
The businessman and former Disney employee said he prefers to remain anonymous due to anti-gay sentiment near his hometown.
He said he and and his husband, a doctor, chose to marry in Fremont County because it was the most easily-accessible location. They were married by a friend who was ordained on the Internet.
“The Fremont County people could not have been more friendly,” Dan said.
He said the park is “absolutely beautiful,”
“The (Sidney) town square is something out of the movies,” he added.
Fremont County Magistrate Judge Dennis James has performed numerous same-gender weddings, many of them at Waubonsie. He said he has chosen the location for a number of couples who are unfamiliar with the area and want a location off the Interstate.
“They come a long way to get married, that shows a lot of commitment,” he said.
When the marriage law passed in Iowa, county judges were given the option to perform both same-gender and opposite gender marriages or no marriages at all.
“The state gave us the option to decline,” James said.
He said he never considered opting out.
“It’s my job as magistrate to do and enforce what state laws tell me to do,” he said.
James said he’s been happily married to the same woman for 32 years and believes that everyone should be able to marry whomever they choose.
“I feel like everyone has a right to love and be loved by anyone,” he said.
Currently Massachusetts, Connecticut, Vermont, New Hampshire and the District of Columbia also issue marriage licenses to same-sex couples. The California Supreme Court ruled in 2008 that same sex couples have the right to marry, but voters passed Proposition 8 later that year which overturned the Court’s decision.
Dan said what happened in California motivated he and his partner to get married right away once Iowa changed its law. “We thought, we should probably do it while we can,’” he said.
He said they had not given much thought to getting married until the Iowa Supreme Court ruling.
“When we got the opportunity, we said ‘let’s do it,’” he said.
“We are very appreciative of the state of Iowa for allowing us to get married because we never would have thought about it unless we had the opportunity.
“Who would have thought, Iowa?”
He said he grew up in a time when homosexuality wasn’t talked about and there were no role models for gay young people. “I didn’t know any gay people when I was in high school,” he said.
He lists Neil Patrick Harris, Nathan Lane and Sean Hayes (Will and Grace) as current role models in the gay community.
Dan said he and his husband are proof that people’s perceptions of what it means to be gay are not always accurate.
“We’re not the flamboyant, stereotypical gay couple,” he said.
He said he is not an activist, but appreciates that people’s perceptions of gays are changing and homosexuality is more widely accepted than in the past.
“Times are changing. We aren’t in an Archie Bunker world anymore,” he said.
He said he doesn’t see any reason why same-sex couples shouldn’t be allowed to marry. “You can’t put a limit on who you love,” he said.
When he and his partner married, he said they received support from friends and family.
“People are happy for us,” he said.
“We are 100 percent happy and so glad we did it.
“Until you have to fight for it, you take it for granted, but I never took it for granted.
“Thank you, Iowa. We never thought that it would be possible.”
“The Fremont County people could not have been more friendly,” he said.
He describes Waubonsie as “absolutely beautiful” and said the Sidney town square is “something out of the movies.”
