More than 450 gay couples seek licenses

More same-sex couples sought marriage licenses in Polk County than any other large Iowa population center in the first week after a court ruling went into effect that legalized gay marriage in the state, county numbers show.

Polk County Recorder Julie Haggerty said 116 gay and lesbian couples had applied for licenses by Friday afternoon. More than two-thirds arrived on Monday, when the Supreme Court’s April 3 decision took effect, and dwindled as the week progressed. The proportion of same-sex couples compared with heterosexual couples also dropped later in the week in Polk County. By Friday, Haggerty said, only eight of the 25 couples who applied for licenses were of the same sex.

The Des Moines Register’s survey of county recorders offices indicates more than 450 same-sex couples sought marriage licenses last week. No state agency keeps track of marriage applications on a real-time basis. The Register contacted all 99 county recorders offices on the first day that same-sex couples could seek licenses and received updated tallies from selected offices on Friday.See More than 450 gay couples seek licenses

DesMoinesRegister.com -

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Original source : http://gay_blog.blogspot.com/2009/05/more-than-450…

Gay marriage comes to Iowa today

(Des Moines, Iowa) The only gay couple who were legally wed in Iowa are looking forward to getting some company.

Iowa county clerks were to begin processing same-sex marriage applications Monday, following the Iowa Supreme Court’s ruling on April 3 that legalized same sex-marriage. Iowa typically requires a three-day waiting period …

Gay marriages begin tomorrow in Iowa

Beginning Monday, same-sex couples will be allowed to legally marry in Iowa. Committed gay and lesbian couples from neighboring states, including Illinois, are planning trips to the Hawk Eye state.

Iowa becomes the third state offering same-sex marriage, following the state’s Supreme Court decision in March. Massachusetts and Connecticut already allow same-sex marriage and Vermont has passed a law that will take effect in September.

Iowa counties will begin processing same-sex marriage applications tomorrow morning. County recorders offices will open at 8 a.m.

The first day that Iowa will allow gay marriage is on April 30 because the state requires a three-day waiting period, but a judge can waive that delay and allow an immediate wedding. Many speculate the first gay weddings could happen within hours tomorrow. See Gay marriages begin tomorrow in Iowa ChicagoPride.com