Here ya go!

What can you do to draw people to your state in this awful economy?

Iowa may have the answer!

DES MOINES, Iowa, April 5 (UPI) -- A university study predicts the Iowa Supreme Court's decision to legalize same-sex marriage will result in a financial windfall for The Hawkeye State.

The court's unanimous ruling Friday overturned a decade-old ban on same-sex marriage, making Iowa the third state where gay marriage is legal.

Unlike Connecticut and Massachusetts, which also permit gay marriage, Iowa has no nearby competitors -- meaning businesses could see $160 million in new spending during the next three years, a University of California at Los Angeles study concluded.

Being in the middle of states that have many same-sex couples means Iowa could draw an estimated 55,000 out-of-state couples who spend money on weddings and tourism-related activities, the study said.

Advocates for same-sex marriage celebrated the ruling as a breakthrough for civil rights, while conservative critics called the ruling an attack on traditional marriage and said the court overstepped its authority, The Des Moines (Iowa) Register reported Sunday.

Geeez I could have predicted that. Let's see if it can out-weight the opponents money and power to bring it down.

Im curious. If you are not from Iowa, and the state you reside in does not recognize the marriage, what good does it do for you?

Actually unless I am missing something, it does nothing for anyone living outside the state where it's legal unless your state recognizes it. But I don't keep up on it to know for sure. I guess in that case it would simply be emotional at that point, but heck what marriage doesn't include emotion.

That's what I thought.

why were you curious? what was on your mind that made you inquire if you don't mind my asking.

Well... its interesting to me that most "victories" for the gay community don't really amount to much in reality. I suppose for you, its a step in the right direction, but its like running into a wall and being happy that you only broke your nose. Am I missing something here?

that isn't the main reason a state would legalize gay marriages is it?

Any state that has an equal protection clause in its constitution, will eventually be challenged and have to rule that banning gay marriage violates that provision. I believe that some states have amended their constitutions to prohibit gays from marrying. I am not sure if there would then be grounds for a federal challenge.

I agree they have not amounted to much but think of it this way if you didn't have water for several days, would you be glad for one cup of water? Gays have been pushed about for a very long time, so I am sure that any progress feels like some victory to them. For me, I am not celebrating, nor do I hold out hope that people will change their minds in my life time, at least enough to get this damn thing over with, so that people stop using it as a political tool.

What you are missing, Invictus, might very well be empathy, no offense meant. But I think for some folks it would have to affect them directly to know what it feels like to be considered second class.

Please accept my apology if I miss read your comments...

I understand what you are saying. I dont know what its like. Ive always supported the idea that everyone should be treated as a human being regardless of .........

I think, however, that there are more opponents to gay marriage than just religious people. I would bet that most of the violence that occurs based on sexual orientation isn't carried out by people that actually go to church.

Well I would sincerely love to believe that Invictus, I really really would, but I still think it all stems from the interpretation of biblical scriptures, of course that doesn't mean that every Christian is capable of or would do harm, but some have and think the bible backs them up.

My neighbors just introduced me to their gay nephew, and have invited me to dinner. They are all Christians by the way, so I don't blame all Christians but I do tend to blame Christianity itself for how far this has gone on. I know that nonchristians have a problem too but I think that is more about their own sexual identity and insecurity.

I liken that to guns don't kill people, people kill people. No matter the justification, its the person that commits the violence.

True, just wish it had never been an issue, my life would have been very different in a lot of ways had I been able to be as free as straights are. I am not complaining because I have had great christian straight friends and have never been disrespected in any way, but there are lots of small things in life that would have been very much different, that most people never even think of.. I hope for the best for the next generation of kids that will face this issue in their lives.

Oh well it's bed time for me.. Night Invictus and thank you for responding to me questions.