08/31/2007
Two Men Married in Iowa's First Same-Sex Marriage
Following Judge Robert B. Hanson's order that the Polk County Recorder begin issuing marriage certificates to same-sex couples, gays and lesbians all over the state began preparing paperwork, and this morning, college students Tim McQuillan and Sean Fritz were married by a minister on their front lawn.
Via "Two male college students were married in the front yard of a Des Moines residence this morning. The couple — Tim McQuillan and Sean Fritz, both Iowa State University students — obtained a marriage license at the Polk County recorder’s office and got a judge to sign a waiver allowing them to marry today rather than wait three days, as is required by law. They were married by the Rev. Mark Stringer of First Unitarian Church in Des Moines at 10:32 a.m. Before the ceremony, Stringer said, 'Awesome. It's a long time coming.' After the ceremony, he said, 'They are now official. The marriage license is the official document.' The couple is now headed to the Polk County Administration Building to file the marriage certificate."
More from Radio Iowa:
"Sean Fritz says he proposed to Tim McQuillan last night when he heard a Polk County judge had ruled Iowa's law forbidding gay marriage was unconstitutional. Fritz went to the store and bought wedding rings last night, then got on the Internet to find the paperwork for a Polk County marriage license. 'There was a lot of double-checking everything on the Internet to make sure that we got all the paperwork filled out correctly the first time,' he says. 'We didn't want to get refused because we messed up a 't' somewhere.' Fritz says he called McQuillan's mother in California to ask permission to marry her son. McQuillan says Fritz then got in touch with him. 'He instant messaged me over the Internet that this was going on,' McQuillan says. 'When he picked me up around nine o'clock he proposed to me on the spot. Besides the obvious shock, I still haven't recovered. Maybe it'll set in later this week.'"
Congratulations to Tim, Sean, and all the other same-sex couples celebrating marriage over this Labor Day weekend.
UPDATE: Marriages halt. Judge stays ruling at county's request.
Sphere: Related ContentPosted 12:03 PM EST by Andy in Gay Marriage, Iowa, News | Permalink
Comments
Tim and Sean, I wish you every happiness. Goddess bless you both!
Posted by: the queen | Aug 31, 2007 12:15:55 PM
he called his boyfriend's mom to ask her permission??? that's so fucking precious i can't even handle it.
Posted by: richard | Aug 31, 2007 12:17:14 PM
Posted by: peterparker | Aug 31, 2007 12:25:06 PM
Best of luck to the grooms! The part about asking the mom is terrific. I hope they have a wonderful life together.
Posted by: PietroMaximoff | Aug 31, 2007 12:29:48 PM
Oh My God. In Iowa even. I see heads exploding... all over the place.
Posted by: steve | Aug 31, 2007 12:32:41 PM
That's so much nicer than Larry Craig tapping out a proposal with his left foot.
Posted by: Mike | Aug 31, 2007 12:33:47 PM
College students? They will need a lot of luck for the marriage to work. Kids these days...
Posted by: anon (gmail.com) | Aug 31, 2007 12:33:50 PM
That is the sweetest story.
Posted by: homer | Aug 31, 2007 12:34:31 PM
That is the sweetest story.
Posted by: homer | Aug 31, 2007 12:34:35 PM
Political considerations aside, stories like this always make me gush inside. They remind me of the mad dash to Portland to marry my hubby.
Posted by: Gitai | Aug 31, 2007 12:36:31 PM
You can check out the happy couple in this short student film on YouTube, but it's not clear which of the men in the film they are: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VhpA0VydfLA
Posted by: Osiris | Aug 31, 2007 12:44:13 PM
Ah, now there's a photo on this page... that makes it clear.
Posted by: Osiris | Aug 31, 2007 12:44:57 PM
Why can't our cultural pioneers be more attractive? I would be so much happier for them if they were ripped Chelsea boys. God...these doughy bear-types need to stop making history and give the male models a chance to change the world.
Posted by: JennyLarryCraig | Aug 31, 2007 1:02:19 PM
I'm really surprised that the AG didn't ask (and get) a stay of the order to allow the state's appeals process to work its way through.
I'm also pleased as punch that the AG didn't do that (or didn't get one, if he or she did ask).
Congratulations! to the first of many (I hope!) happy couples, from this happily married guy (also day one, also got us a waiver of the cooling-off period).
Posted by: tjc | Aug 31, 2007 1:02:54 PM
I'm all for the happy couple, good for them. One thing though... wasn't this whole thing part of a suit by six same-sex couples... wouldn't it have been better if they were the first ones to get married.
I guess ya snooze ya lose.
Posted by: AdamO | Aug 31, 2007 1:12:17 PM
Why use a priest? Isn't the whole point of showing to the religious nutcases that this is about CIVIL MARRIAGE? Now they read about priests marrying male couples and can you blame them for not being able to distingushing between a civil contract and a religious ceremony?
Posted by: ReasonBased | Aug 31, 2007 1:13:00 PM
I'm so proud of my home state. Congrats to the two of them, and thanks to the citizens of Iowa for reminding folks that the midwest isn't just something for people to fly over. :)
Posted by: Brian J. | Aug 31, 2007 1:14:50 PM
>>I'm really surprised that the AG didn't ask (and get) a stay of the order to allow the state's appeals process to work its way through.
He just did. News is breaking now.
Posted by: crispy | Aug 31, 2007 1:15:53 PM
Reasonbased, they didn't use a priest. They used a Reverend of a Unitarian Church that supports gay marriage. Nothing has to be proved to "religious nuts".
Posted by: Patrick | Aug 31, 2007 1:20:51 PM
Yes, reasonbased, how dare they get married the way they want to? Don't they know their marriage is about making a political statement and not about their love for each other?
Sorry. This is a really sweet story - my favorite part, too, is that he called his boyfriend's mom to ask permission.
Posted by: Thor | Aug 31, 2007 1:23:16 PM
"Why use a priest? Isn't the whole point of showing to the religious nutcases that this is about CIVIL MARRIAGE? Now they read about priests marrying male couples and can you blame them for not being able to distingushing between a civil contract and a religious ceremony? "
What better way than to use a priest? Show them they don't hold the monopoly on God that they try so hard to convince the world they do.
I'm vehemently anti-theist, but I think I'd still get some flavor of Christian minister to officiate just for the statement it would make.
Posted by: Iko | Aug 31, 2007 1:23:24 PM
Mazel Tov, Fritz and Mcquillan!
Posted by: Aaron | Aug 31, 2007 1:25:05 PM
Re: Stay / appeal:
Yeah, I just saw this article:
http://www.boston.com/news/nation/articles/2007/08/31/judge_same_sex_couples_can_wed_in_iowa/?page=full
which says:
----
The window of opportunity could be narrow, though.
County attorney John Sarcone promised a quick appeal, and he immediately asked Hanson for a stay that would prevent gays and lesbians from getting marriage licenses until the appeal was resolved. A hearing on the stay request is likely next week, said Camilla Taylor, an attorney with Lambda Legal, a New York-based gay rights organization.
----
Get 'em while they last, boys and girls!
Posted by: tjc | Aug 31, 2007 1:27:01 PM
Calling the parents to ask permission before proposing indicates respect and shows that Fritz was brought up right. Call me old-fashioned, but it's nice to see that some people still care about that kind of thing.
May they have many happy years together.
Posted by: Brian | Aug 31, 2007 1:29:34 PM
Also, this is a great Massachusetts-style decision, not a Vermont-style decision (like NJ's), from what I read in the Globe's article.
Compare
Mass: Marriage is for everyone, including same-sex couples.
with
VT: The rights that come from marriage are for everyone; the legislature can offer them however it wishes (civil unions, marriage, DP, etc), as long as same-sex couples get the same rights.
Posted by: tjc | Aug 31, 2007 1:31:09 PM
isn't Des Moines considered the cultural barometer of America?
if so, then perhaps we've just witnessed the turning point in the battle for marriage rights.
Posted by: A.J | Aug 31, 2007 1:34:35 PM
The ruling was just stayed. Guess everyone else will have to wait another 20 years.
Posted by: Aaron | Aug 31, 2007 1:38:34 PM
Where are they registered? I wanna send them a salt shaker for luck!
Posted by: kitchenbeard | Aug 31, 2007 2:10:37 PM
Happy for these guys, but a bit of a selfish concern here: Here in Oregon, there's a petition drive underway to stay our new domestic partnerships and send them to popular vote. Signature gathering, by all accounts, has been slow. I wonder how news like this will galvanize efforts elsewhere.
Not saying it was a bad thing in Iowa; just worried about the fallout as it affects my family personally.
Posted by: Mad John | Aug 31, 2007 2:41:25 PM
I am so happy for them! Living in Minnesota... it is nice to know that some states in the midwest are coming around.
Posted by: Luke | Aug 31, 2007 3:00:30 PM
I would hope that with each state that grants rights to same-sex couples we as a nation will move closer to equality. Down here in Georgia we are way behind that curve. Even a half a day of granting marriage licenses far surpasses where we are in my home state. Good luck to all the happy couples.
Posted by: joey | Aug 31, 2007 3:16:15 PM
Mazel Tov indeed!
All the best to these guys.
Posted by: Zeke | Aug 31, 2007 3:19:32 PM
Congrats fallahs(gals and everyone that desires to do so in Iowa or anyplace else in this godsoraken country),in case you read this.
It's always just a matter of time and
Posted by: Corey Llascaris | Aug 31, 2007 4:08:55 PM
I am happy for them and I hope it lasts.
Posted by: moby | Aug 31, 2007 6:39:01 PM
I wish they would post on here where they are registered. I would send them a gift. Congrats, love and all my best to you!!!!
Posted by: Vi Agara | Aug 31, 2007 8:26:39 PM
Senator Tom Harken (D-Ia) just lost his chance to be reelected to the Senate and a constitutional amendment banning gay marriage will almost certainly appear on the Iowa 2008 state ballot. Considering that the lower court's decision will be overturned on appeal and the marriage will be invalidated shortly, I hope the guys truly appreciate the cost of their impulsive and fleeting marriage to us all.
Posted by: TnDem08 | Aug 31, 2007 8:32:03 PM
The next 2 appointments to SCOTUS will decide all our futures and the outcome of the '08 elections will decide the leanings of the Court for the next generation. That is our only concern at this time.
Posted by: TNDem08 | Aug 31, 2007 8:38:03 PM
Yes! ISU students! Go ISU!
Congrats you two, and all the other couples. I just hope the stay on the ruling is only temporary. Half the people in the state want this, and it's such a good step in the right direction.
Posted by: Joanna | Aug 31, 2007 10:32:12 PM
Congratulations to the newlyweds! Fridays have the best news surprises.
Posted by: Sideon | Aug 31, 2007 11:01:33 PM
Now I ask you: how can anything be wrong with that?
Posted by: Eric | Sep 1, 2007 7:38:37 AM
Thanks so much for all of the positive support. I am Tim's mom and I love my son unconditionally. I was in a Walgreens pharmacy drive up window when Sean called to ask my permission. I met him last month when they came to visit me during their vacation. Looking past all of the issues that surround this topic of gays and marriage, these are two of the most wonderful, caring, intelligent men I know and I am very proud of both of them. I have a new son-in-law and to me it's the same as any of my other children getting married.
Posted by: Jeannie | Sep 1, 2007 2:21:30 PM
JEANNIE, YOU frickin ROCK!
Will you be MY mother?
Congratulations again to your son and his husband.
I thank god every day that I have a mother-in-law who, like you, feels pride in her son, his husband and our marriage.
My mother on the other hand, not so much.
Oh well, HER loss!
Posted by: Zeke | Sep 1, 2007 5:40:11 PM
Congratulations Tim & Sean! This event brings tears to my eyes. I live in Singapore. And I hope someday same-sex marriages will be possible in Singapore, as well as the rest of the world.
Thank you, Towleroad for sharing this story, and bringing it to light.
Peace everyone.
Posted by: timotheus | Sep 4, 2007 1:01:20 AM
THINK NOW TO APPEAL
GEORGE BUSH'S AMENDMENT TO THE U.S.
CONSTITUTION CALLING FOR MARRIAGE TO BETWEEN
A MAN AND A WOMAN ONLY. THIS WILL TAKE PLACE NEXT YEAR. WE MUST ORGANIZE NOW TO
REPEAL THIS AMENDMENT AS SOON AS POSSIBLE.
THE AMENDMENT WILL TAKE AWAY ALL OUR RIGHTS
THAT WE HAVE WORKED SO HARD FOR IN
MASSACHUSETTS. MY ANSWER: WORK ON WINNING
DOMESTIC PARTNERSHIPS IN AS MANY STATES AS
WE CAN, THEN PUSH FOR SAME SEX MARRIAGE FREEDOM. REMEMBER TO TALK ABOUT FREEDOM WHEN YOU SPEAK OF THIS. THIS IS A KEY TO WINNING MANY RIGHTS FOR ALL UNITED STATES PEOPLE!
Posted by: John | Oct 16, 2007 1:59:48 PM
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