This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It will not be checked again for changes.

You can find the current article at its original source at http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/rss/-/1/hi/world/americas/7981893.stm

The article has changed 4 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.

Version 1 Version 2
Iowa upholds gay marriage rights Iowa upholds gay marriage rights
(about 3 hours later)
Iowa's Supreme Court has ruled that a ban on same-sex marriages in the US state was unconstitutional.Iowa's Supreme Court has ruled that a ban on same-sex marriages in the US state was unconstitutional.
The judges rejected an appeal against a lower court's 2007 ruling that the ban violated the rights of gay men and women in the state.The judges rejected an appeal against a lower court's 2007 ruling that the ban violated the rights of gay men and women in the state.
The case stems from a 2005 suit filed by a New York-based gay-rights group on behalf of six gay and lesbian couples.The case stems from a 2005 suit filed by a New York-based gay-rights group on behalf of six gay and lesbian couples.
Iowa now becomes the third US state to allow same-sex marriages after Connecticut and Massachusetts. Iowa becomes the third US state to allow same-sex marriages, joining Connecticut and Massachusetts.
In 2007, Polk County Judge Robert Hanson ruled that the state's 1998 Defense of Marriage Act, which defines marriage as solely between a man and a woman, violated the couples' constitutional rights. Other states allow civil partnerships or other unions, but these do not carry the same legal weight as marriages.
On the same day Polk County attorney John Sarcone filed an appeal arguing that the issue should be left to the legislature. In its summary, the Supreme Court said the ruling "reaffirmed that a statute inconsistent with the Iowa Constitution must be declared void, even though it may be supported by strong and deep-seated traditional beliefs and popular opinion".
But the Supreme Court rejected the appeal and the Associated Press reported that Mr Sarcone would not ask for a rehearing, meaning the court's decision should take effect after in three weeks' time. Go get married, live happily ever after, live the American dream Dennis JohnsonLawyer
Lambda Legal, which filed the case, said the couples, three of whom had children, had been together for between five and 16 years. It said the ruling would remove language from Iowa's legal code which limited marriage to being between a man and a woman.
Remaining statutes must also be "interpreted and applied in a manner allowing gay and lesbian people full access to the institution of civil marriage", the court said.
Dennis Johnson, a lawyer for the plaintiffs, said it was "a great day for civil rights in Iowa".
"We have all of you courageous plaintiffs to thank: Go get married, live happily ever after, live the American dream," he said.
No appeal
Polk County Judge Robert Hanson had ruled in 2007 that Iowa's 1998 Defense of Marriage Act, defining marriage as solely between a man and a woman, violated the couples' constitutional rights.
California briefly legalised same sex marriage in 2009
But on the same day, Polk County Attorney John Sarcone filed an appeal arguing that the issue should be left to the legislature - that appeal has now been rejected.
The Associated Press reported that Mr Sarcone would not ask for a rehearing, meaning the court's decision should take effect in three weeks' time.
Lambda Legal, which filed the case, said the couples cited had been together for between five and 16 years and three of them had children.
The group had said the couples wanted "the responsibilities of marriage and the protections only marriage can provide".The group had said the couples wanted "the responsibilities of marriage and the protections only marriage can provide".
They also said the couples' children and future children should have the right to "have their families treated fairly". It said the couples' children and any future children should have the right to "have their families treated fairly".
Iowa is the first state to legalise gay marriage in the US Midwest - traditionally a more conservative area of the country.
Analysts said the ruling showed acceptance of same-sex marriage was becoming more mainstream.
The state of California briefly legalised same-sex marriage in 2008.
Thousands of couples were married before the ruling was overturned by a referendum in November.