Action 3 News - Omaha, Nebraska News, Weather, and Sports | Gay and Lesbian Couples in Iowa Say "I Do"
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Omaha, NE - The eyes of the nation are on Iowa as the state begins accepting same-sex marriage applications. Monday morning, same-sex couples lined up outside the county recorder's office in Council Bluffs to fill out their marriage application.
Many couples never thought they'd experience this moment. "It's absolutely amazing," one woman told Action 3 News. After the application is complete, there is a three-day waiting period until the couples can make it official.
While many are protesting the decision, we found a local church celebrating it.
Metropolitan Community Church has about 100 members. About 80% are gay or lesbian. Since Iowa legalized gay marriage, the church is seeing a boom in activity.
People sing, pray, and smile. Members here at Metropolitan Community Church are predominitely gay and lesbian. One day away from being allowed to legally marry a man to a man and woman to a woman in Iowa, Pastor Tom Emmett is busy scheduling ceremonies. "Probably about 15 at this point. I've had over 30 contacts," said Metropolitan Community Church Pastor, Tom Emmett.
Pastor Tom says he conducts an average of 15 wedding ceremonies a year. This year, he thinks he'll have more than 200. His Sunday sermon encourages people to live in the moment. That's just what couple, Eric Strom and Scott Hays are going to do. After being together for 14-years, they say it's time to head to Iowa and say 'I do'. "I'm very excited, we're finally being recognized. We want to follow those traditional values that the rest of the world does in marriage," said Scott Hays.
But from Iowa's Statehouse to the streets, opponents have been protesting the decision, saying it's not traditional. One person tells Action 3 News, it's simply against his religious beliefs. "I believe that Adam and Eve created the world so they should stick with that," said Andy Brown.
But Eric and Scott say it's about equality under the law. "I for one am going to feel awestruck that something that's been denied for so long is now no longer denied," said Eric Strom.
A Williams Institute 2008 study estimates more than 55,000 gay and lesbian couples will travel to Iowa to marry in the first three years after gay marriage has been legalized in the state.
Posted by: Reporter, Erika Summers, esummers@action3news.com
Updated by: Chriss Knight, cknight@action3news.com
