Happy First Anniversay, Iowa!

You might not remember, but this time last year was the start of marriage equality in Iowa.

The Iowa Supreme Court, in Varnum v. Brien, ruled unanimously for equality for same-sex couples and their families. This made Iowa the third state where LGBT
couples had the freedom to marry.

It was also significant in that it was the first state in the heartland of America to get marriage equality. This began a series of successes that brought the freedom to marry to same-sex couples in Vermont, New Hampshire, and Washington, D.C.

Marriage equality hasn't been a sure and steady path - the loss of fairness and freedom to marry in Maine was a huge setback - but we have made amazing progress. Only a year ago, there were just two places in our country where same-sex couples could marry. Now there are six!

We honor and join the joyous couples in Iowa who are celebrating their first anniversary.

Lambda Legal captured some of the voices and images from the weddings of their clients in the Varnum case. You can take a look here to see what an impact equality makes.

(If the embedded video, below, doesn't work, click here to watch a YouTube video.)



It's easy to get caught up in the struggles and travails for freedom and fairness for LGBT Americans, and the losses always hurt so much, but it's critical to celebrate the victories that give us a model to aim for.

Happy Anniversary to all couples from corn country!