Source: Des Moines Register, Iowa Independent, Los Angeles Times
Nearly 60 percent of Iowans support some form of legal recognition for same-sex couples, poll results released Tuesday indicate.
The statewide survey of 586 Iowa voters conducted by University of Iowa political scientists found that 28 percent of Iowans support same-sex marriage. Another 30 percent support civil unions.
Thirty-two percent of respondents opposed both marriage and civil unions for same-sex couples. Nearly 10 percent said they didn't know or refused to answer, the U of I reported, according to Des Moines Register.
"Iowans are not yet ready to support gay marriage completely, but they are clearly ready to legally acknowledge same-sex relationships," said David Redlawsk, according to the Iowa Independent. He's associate professor of political science at the University of Iowa who coordinated the Iowa portion of the poll.
"For many the idea of marriage may still be a step too far, but at the same time they are willing to recognize committed relationships," Redlawsk said.
The issue will gain greater prominence in two weeks when the Iowa Supreme Courts hears oral arguments in a case challenging the state's ban on marriage for gay and lesbian couples.
Iowa District Court for Polk County Judge Robert Hanson ruled in August 2007 that the the state's "Defense of Marriage Act" violated the state constitutional rights of equal protection and due process. The ruling stood for less than 24 hours, before a Polk County attorney filed an appeal to the Iowa Supreme Court.
But in the nearly nine business hours that same-sex marriage was legal in the Hawkeye State, dozens of couples applied for licenses. Only one couple -- a pair of Iowa State University undergraduates -- was able to move fast enough to obtain a license and rush through a ceremony before the stay was enacted.
Until a final ruling is issued by the high court, Sean Fritz and Tim McQuillan won't know how long their marriage will remain legally recognized in the state of Iowa, Los Angeles Times reports.
Now, both national advocates and opponents of same-sex marriage say they will closely monitor the Dec. 9 hearing in Des Moines, Los Angeles Times reports. Both sides say they wonder whether the recent passage of Proposition 8 in California, which banned gay marriage, will influence the outcome in Iowa, and whether the issue of same-sex unions will return to the forefront as state legislatures return to session early next year.
If the state Supreme Court upholds a constitutional right to marriage for same-sex couples, 35.4 percent of Iowans surveyed in the recent poll said they would accept that decision, the Register reports.
Another 27 percent said that if the Supreme Court recognizes marriage equality for gay and lesbian couples, the state should amend the constitution to ban marriage for that group, but allow civil unions. Nearly 29 percent said the state should "Amend to Ban any Same-Sex Relationship", as pollsters worded the question.
9.5 percent said they didn't know or refused to answer the question.
Strongest support for what pollsters refer to as "gay marriage" in the questions, was registered by those who identified themselves as atheist or agnostic. 61.1% said they favored "gay marriage." But those who identified themselves as "Catholic" showed similar support for some form of legal recognition. 30.1% of Catholics said they support marriage for gay and lesbian couples while an equal number oppose marriage, but support "Civil unions".
Strongest opposition came from those who are identified by pollsters as "Other Christian". 40.7% oppose any form of legal recognition for same sex-couples. 36.8% of those identified as "Protestant" oppose recognition.
A majority of Iowa voters under age 30 are already in favor of marriage equality, suggesting that support for it could grow as time goes on. Less than one-fifth (18.9%) of younger voters oppose any legal recognition of same-sex relationships, Iowa Independent reports.
The poll was conducted Oct. 19-22 as part of the Big Ten Battleground Poll, a survey done in Iowa, Ohio, Michigan, Pennsylvania, Indiana, Wisconsin, Illinois and Minnesota, home to the 11 universities in the Big Ten Conference. The margin of error is plus or minus 4 percentage points.
The marriage equality questions were asked only in Iowa, according to the Register.
The Des Moines Register's Iowa Poll of 801 adults in February found that 62 percent of Iowans thought marriage should be only between a man and a woman. Thirty-two percent said same-sex marriage should be allowed, while 6 percent said they were unsure.
Last week, California's highest court agreed to review legal challenges to the proposition.
Given that two state Supreme Courts are likely to weigh in on the subject next year, and that many state legislatures were in recess during California's fight over the matter, "I think it's highly likely that lawmakers across the country will be looking to get something on the ballot in 2009," said Christine Nelson, a policy analyst who focuses on same-sex marriage and family law for NCSL.
Attorney Camilla Taylor, lead counsel for the prosecution, said the Iowa case is not about issues of faith.
"All we're talking about is government-issued marriage licenses," said Taylor, who works for Lambda Legal. The national gay rights organization filed the lawsuit in 2005 on behalf of six same-sex Iowa couples; it was later amended to include three children whose parents are plaintiffs.
"There comes a point when you can't tell people to hold off on getting married any longer," Taylor told LA Times. "We felt the time was right, and that Iowans would give us a fair hearing."
Source: University of Iowa poll results [pdf document]
About 6 in 10 Iowans back same-sex unions, poll finds | Des Moines Register
Majority of Iowans back same-sex unions | Iowa Independent
Iowa's gay-marriage ban goes before high court | Los Angeles Times