Getting Over It

“We are firmly convinced that the exclusion of gay and lesbian people from the institution of civil marriage does not substantially further any important governmental objective.” “The legislature has excluded a historically disfavored class of persons from a supremely important civil institution without a constitutionally sufficient justification.”

On Friday, in a unanimous ruling, the Iowa Supreme Court struck down a legislative ban on same-sex marriage using language uniquely direct and unequivocal.

Has it ever been more elegantly, more simply put?

How can limiting the rights of gay and lesbian citizens in any way improve public policy?

Gay and lesbian rights, including the right to marriage, are growing slowly each day as state after state in America allows for more inlcusion.

Some 30 states have still have legal or constitutional provisions banning gay marriage or civil unions. Most of these roughly correspond with the states that voted Republican last November.