If you either do a search or use the Marriage Equality category on my blog, you will see it has been a fairly frequent subject for me. IO most often make a point to differentiate Civil Marriage from Religious Marriage, as the battle for same-sex marriage is one for allowing all couples, including same-sex couples to have the same legal rights and privileges as straight couples. I’m of the belief that the government shouldn’t be in the business of telling Churches what they must be, and vice versa, churches shouldn’t be dictating what government should be doing. But I wanted to post this link and talk about it a bit, since it is an example of an Iowa church offering same-sex marriage. Yes, the push for same-sex marriage is about over 1000 legal rights, but at the same time, marriage is very much about becoming a joined couple- a family- and for many, a church is a space in which that can happen.

Check out the linked story, it is a very good read. Aside from the detailing of these 9 Minnesota couples, the story contains some data about the number of marriage certificates being issues.

The most important take away message however is this:

Brad Sears, executive director Williams Institute of the University of California-Los Angeles Law School, said the views of Americans are changing rapidly. He predicted less and less resistance to gay marriage in Iowa the more time Iowans are around it. That’s what has happened in Massachusetts, where gay marriage has been legal for five years.

“In the end, same-sex marriage is not that exciting,” he said. “It tends to look like marriage in general, and it hasn’t really caused any waves in any communities.”

Groups like the National Organization for Marriage (NOM) which should really just be named the National Organization Against Gay People, spread fear by suggesting dire things will happen if gays are allowed to marry, but the reality is nothing bad has ever happened in any of the communities where gays can get married. No heterosexual marriage has been harmed or impacted in any way.

Wedding unites 9 gay couples at Des Moines church | DesMoinesRegister.com | The Des Moines Register.