Iowan civil rights lawyer Heather Buell is one of the lawyers who will be fighting for Iowa’s marriage license after a judge ruled she cannot marry a same-sex couple because of her religious beliefs.
Iowan Attorney General Jeff Johnson confirmed on Twitter that he is appealing the ruling to the state Supreme Court. “
I’m not asking for a special exemption or special privileges for our marriage, I am asking for an exemption that protects our religious freedom and equal rights.”
Iowan Attorney General Jeff Johnson confirmed on Twitter that he is appealing the ruling to the state Supreme Court.
Iowa’s religious freedom law exempts businesses from paying for any legal services that would be rendered for people of the same sex, according to the Iowa Department of Human Services.
The American Civil Liberties Union has sued the state over the issue, and a judge in Iowa last week struck down the state’s law as unconstitutional, saying it is discriminatory and violates the rights of individuals to choose their own marriages.
Buell’s marriage will be valid in Iowa.
Read more about Iowan marriage law here: Iowa: Religious Freedom law struck down by Iowa judge The judge’s ruling came after the Iowa Supreme Court struck down a law that prevented businesses from providing legal services to same-gender couples.
The Iowa Supreme court said the law is discriminatory because it prevents business owners from performing same-party weddings.
“I’m pleased to hear that the Iowa Legislature will now be moving to uphold Iowa’s religious freedoms law, which was struck down last week in a lawsuit by the American Civil Liberty Union,” Buella said.
According to the American Religious Freedom Foundation, Iowa is one out of four states where the law does not provide protection for religious freedom, while Indiana is the next state in line.
Civil rights groups have been calling for a statewide referendum on same-date marriages since January, after the Supreme Court ruled that states must allow gay marriage.
Same-sex marriage is legal in 23 states and the District of Columbia, with the majority of states following the federal Supreme Court’s ruling last year that struck down bans on gay marriage in all 50 states.
