April 2009 Archives

I promise to write something of substance soon -- our house, recently bombed with Lysol, has been a breeding ground lately of an exceptionally nasty cold bug. Until I get caught up on e-mail and get the holders of the paycheck satisfied, here's something to make you chuckle.

Dan from College Humor decided to try tweeting in public. Results are mixed.

In case you were wondering, you can also follow Essential Estrogen, Renee or me on twitter.

Sec. Hillary Clinton responds to a question about the role of U.S. government supporting access to safe abortion, contraception, maternal health care and education abroad...

"The time of the gentleman has expired." Indeed it has.

Big hat tip to RH Reality Check.

The Iowa Department of Transportation has announced that groups will be working on Saturday, April 25, to clean up areas along I-380 both north and south of downtown Cedar Rapids.

Beckett's Public House, a restaurant on Edgewood Road, and Hy-Vee are working with the DOT to sponsor the event, which will run from 8 a.m. to noon.

Those interested in joining the clean up should meet beginning at 7:30 a.m. at either the Hy-Vee parking lot on Wilson Road SE or Edgewood Road NE. Those meeting on the southeast side will clean up I-380 south of downtown. Those on the northeast side will clean up the road north of downtown.

Volunteers must be 14 or older. In addition, any volunteer under the age of 18 will need a release signed by a parent or guardian. All volunteers will be asked to sign a liability waiver, available at the morning meeting location.

Safety vets will be handed out to the crews at the Hy-Vee locations, and will be collected at those same locations when the clean-up is complete. Participants are asked to wear sturdy shoes and bring their own work gloves.

Two days ago in downtown Cedar Rapids a diverse group gathered to discuss what could be done about recent upticks in crime, especially violent crime that appears to be perpetrated by juveniles. As in many meetings and discussions of this sort, the topics of absent fathers and single mothers were persistent concerns.

Today, on the opinion page of the Cedar Rapids Gazette, the editorial board gives a brief outline of the problem and their choices as to the most important action items developed by the speakers. The Gazette editors are keenly aware -- as are most area residents -- that such discussions need to be balanced. To that end, the editorial makes specific note of the race of panel participants, bluntly alerting readers to the fact that there were "four white and three black members."

But, while the editorial board goes out of its way to show that balance, it fully ignores the gender inequality of the panel -- even while making note that "teens having babies, fathers not stepping up and parents without good parenting skills are at the heart of the crime issue." It is further opined that "more positive adult role models in many youngsters' lives are sorely needed."

The seven-member panel, which the Gazette did not play a role in selecting, was comprised of six men and only one woman.

If we are to believe that poor parenting or, in particular, poor single-parenting is a large contributor to the crime problem in the greater Cedar Rapids area, then why wouldn't any discussion about curbing the violence include more women's voices?

As a community, we should have no qualms highlighting our challenges. It is through that process that we learn how to address the problems we face and, hopefully, prevent future concerns from ever becoming a reality. But, if we identify an issue -- for instance, the majority of households in higher crime areas of the community being run by single women -- we will never find resolution if we refuse or ignore primary stakeholders.

"This is not a police solution," said Greg Graham, police chief in Cedar Rapids, during the discussion on April 14. "We are a resource. We are not a solution. The community will come up with a solution and everyone has to hold each other accountable."

Those solutions the community seeks cannot be found in board rooms any more than they can be found in the police station. Those solutions lie with the neighborhood women that everyone seems to be more than willing to stain with blame, but less than willing to approach and include.

Gazette staff and those at the meeting have called for all aspects of the community -- faith, commerce, education and residential -- to come together and build solutions. It's a noble pursuit that will no doubt lead to more evening meetings, more panel discussions and various neighborhood coalitions. With any luck, there might even be some successes to report along the way.

Yet how many single mothers, already stretched thin from wearing several different hats, are actually going to provide their voices to this discussion? How many women couldn't or didn't attend this first meeting because there was no child care provided? Sometimes it's those little considerations that lead to long-term solutions.

Lord knows that I have "real" work I should be doing, but I can't stop thinking about Susan Boyle.

Two days ago I posted a clip of her performance before the judges on a European American Idol-type show called "Britain's Got Talent." This morning, as I was getting dressed, I saw clips of her on Good Morning America. And, as I walked through the house a few moments ago I was drawn to the television again, only to see Susan Boyle clips on The View.

I hope The View producers put video of the subsequent discussion online because it was interesting to hear the ladies discuss Boyle. It was unfortunate, however, that the conversation turned -- as it often does with a group of women -- to physical presentation. Boyle's external appearance had little, if nothing to do with why I was drawn to the clip.

When I watch the clip I posted, or the expanded clip posted on YouTube, I am (and was from the beginning) struck by how she really seems to be doing this for nothing more than the pure joy of the doing. That is, when she stops singing, she throws a kiss to the audience and begins walking off the stage. She didn't even wait around to hear what the judges had to say.

While there might be some psychological or sociological insights to be had in relation to that, I truly think that Boyle came, saw and conquered. Anything above what she already accomplished was gravy on an already incredible meal. I believe that is evidenced by her reactions to the judges. It wasn't that she didn't expect to be chosen, it was that being selected for the program wasn't her true aim.

I think the larger lesson in Boyle's story for all of us is that we should do those things that we dream of doing, even when they scare us. The most important thing is that we don't do it for others. We don't do it because we are expected to do it, or because we are supposed to do it. We should do it because of something inside ourselves.

Most have probably heard about, if not seen, the study out of Ohio State University that compares the grade point averages of college students who use facebook with those who do not. The findings are stark:

College students who use facebook spend less time studying and have lower grade point averages than students who have not signed up for the social networking website ... more than three-quarters of facebook users claimed that their use of the social networking site didn't interfere with their studies.

"There may be other factors involved, such as personality traits, that link facebook use and lower grades," said Aryn Karpinski, co-author of the study and a doctoral student in education at Ohio State University. "It may be that if it wasn't for facebook, some students would still find other ways to avoid studying, and would still get lower grades. But perhaps the lower GPAs could actually be because students are spending too much time socializing online."

What came to my mind when I first read this study was a piece of advice one of my college professors gave me when I, as a young college freshman, still suffered from a perfection complex. In short, if I didn't get an "A," I didn't think I was good enough. The professor explained that despite academics insistance on numbers and letters, even the medical student with the lowest GPA in the class was still a doctor.

I don't think the professor was advocating that we all do just enough to get by, but was saying that there has to be joy in the journey. I also can attest to the fact that no one has asked for my GPA or standardized test scores in more than a decade. So, if students are enjoying the college experience, and part of that experience includes the use of social networking sites, does it really matter if a GPA drops from 3.6 to 3.4 or 3.2?

One other piece of information from the press release about the study:

As for herself, Karpinski said she doesn't have a Facebook account, although her co-author does.

"For me, I think Facebook is a huge distraction," she said.

Most things in life are distractions, although I'd agree that the Internet is probably the world's largest one. (I can't count the number of times I set out to research topic A and ended up on a tangent path that included topics B, M and Z.) Still, unless this statement was taken somewhat out of context or with inflection that wasn't noted, isn't that a severe bias that could have inappropriately influenced the surveying and research behind the study?

Dr. Scott McLeod, an associate professor and coordinator of the Educational Administration Program at Iowa State University, has also blogged about this study, including some of his own number-crunching based on info in the press release. 

We all should look at - and think carefully about - any research findings that get reported out like this. We need to ask questions like Does this make gut-level sense? and Are the generalizations limited to the data or overbroad? and What more do I need to know to be confident in these findings?. Being informed consumers of research is critical if we are to make research- and/or data-driven decisions to benefit our students.

Very good advice, Dr. McLeod. I'm also in favor of Karpinski releasing more information regarding the study. Since my viewpoint is often tilted by gender issues, I'm particularly interested to know if any differences along gender lines were evident. 

I'd write more, but I need to click over to facebook and update my status. Come. Befriend me. (Or follow me on twitter for that matter.)

My guess is you're going to be hearing a lot about her.

In America we have "American Idol," a show of which I'm not a big fan for several reasons. In Europe they have a similar show -- "Britain's Got Talent" -- that I think I'd like better for the sheer fact that it appears the contestants don't have to be within a certain age bracket.

So, straight from the other side of the pond, meet Susan Boyle:

All I can say to that is: "You Go, Girl!"

by Sue Ellen Tuttle

Governor Chet Culver's silence following the Iowa Supreme Court's ruling that marriage is an equal opportunity institution spoke volumes.
 
Those troubled by the Court's decision would do well to listen to that silence.
 
When he broke silence, the governor acknowledged that he personally believes marriage is between a man and a woman.
 
When a lifelong, deeply held and seemingly incontrovertible belief is confronted-unanimously-by a bench of our most respected and distinguished judges, the only responsible thing to do is slow down and take another, conscientious, look.
 
That is what Governor Culver did. And that's why Chet gets it.
 
Mr. Culver gets that we live in a world blessed with diversity, and that what works for one may not work for another. He gets how important it is to respect and protect what works for others even if you don't agree with them.
 
He gets it that allowing my son to marry his life partner does nothing to diminish his own marriage to Mari. He gets that allowing my lesbian friend to marry her partner allows her to participate equally in the human experience.
 
He gets the distinction between civil marriage and religious marriage. One day, I trust he will get that different religions may honor and celebrate different kinds of religious marriage. And that this is okay, too.
 
"I think it's appropriate to take as much time as necessary, in my case about four days, to thoroughly read the decision," Culver responded to critics who said he took too long to comment.
 
Culver's intelligent decision to forego a "knee-jerk reaction" and read the ruling with diligence -- rather than with an eye for rebuttal -- was critical to his personal stake in the matter as well as the well-being of the Iowans he governs.
 
If those similarly troubled by the ruling read it with the same diligence, it might help them move towards an understanding that moderates their own inner conflict. And help them remember that faith, hope and charity are also tenets of Christianity that may, in this case, be superior to those seeking to overturn this ruling.
 
Sue Ellen Tuttle is a writer from Ames who applauds Representative King's efforts to encourage gay and lesbian families to seek residency in Iowa.

While I'm typically not an Oprah Winfrey watcher -- and, to be fair, I'm not much of a television watcher regardless of the program -- I did happen to see the start of today's Oprah show. The topic was a carry-over from the day before when Dr. Laura Berman, a sex educator and therapist, said something that I guess a fair number of people found shocking.

Berman told Oprah that mothers should instruct their teenage daughters -- roughly age 15 -- on how to pleasure themselves. The thinking behind this was that when the girl later found herself in a steamy situation, she would understand her own body's response and be better able to set logical sexual limits for herself.

Before I move on to what I want to talk about in this post, let me first say that I have no problem with this advice. It might be somewhat embarrassing for the mom and daughter to have the conversation, but I believe it is a healthy one nonetheless.

On the panel today, Oprah was joined by Mark Consuelos (husband of Kelly Ripa), long-time friend Gayle King and another woman I didn't recognize. As the group began to discuss what happened yesterday, Consuelos was asked about teenage boys and masterbation. Without so much as a blush, he jokingly admitted to spending several of his teen years in the bathroom. Gayle then stated that she knew this to be true about teenage boys, but that she didn't believe the same was true of teenage girls.

My experience (as a former teenage girl with lots of teenage girl friends) is that all teenagers, regardless of gender, masterbate. In our society, however, I think it is more acceptable to acknowledge that men do so. For reasons I still don't fully understand, women aren't expected to be sexual creatures -- or maybe that only certain women are allowed by society to be sexual creatures. For this reason even adult women tend to discuss masterbation in whispers with one another.

For this reason alone, Dr. Berman is right. As mothers, we are responsible for the health of our children. "Health of our children" includes the sexual health of our daughters. If we cannot get past the silliness of masterbation being abnormal, then we will continue to perpetuate confusion for our daughters.

Boys understand nearly from the beginning of puberty that their body and all of its reactions to stimulus belong to them. Such knowledge has obviously not prevented the male of the species from making and maintaining lasting commitment with a partner. It has not tempted men to forsake intimate activity with others. Given all of that, I don't understand why we don't teach young women the same lessons. 

Queer Eye for the Hawkeye:

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If you've been searching for just the right question to ask U.S. Sen. Chuck Grassley during one of his public appearances in Iowa this month, the Washington Independent has something you might want to read.

It's worth remembering that Grassley voted against the stimulus bill in February when you see him in person and he says things like this:

In Iowa we've been fortunate that construction money for highways is going to get out very quickly. The governor is making decisions now on education funding and Medicaid funding, which are the other two big pots of money. So I believe you're going to see the stimulus impact of that taking place pretty soon.

I think with, for instance, in the state aid money -- I should say the stimulus money that's going to go through the state aid formula -- you're going to find some teachers that might otherwise be laid off maybe won't be laid off. And the Medicaid money -- I think you're going to find some cutbacks at the state level that would have happened without the stimulus package won't have to happen now.

Right now I'm leaning toward attending his scheduled appearance in Waterloo on April 18.

Althought Vermont Gov. Jim Douglas carried through on his promise to veto legislation that legalized same-sex marriage, both houses voted this morning to override the veto.

In the Vermont Senate 23 out of 28 members voted to override. In the Vermont House, 100 out of 149 voted to override.

Vermont, nine years after adopting the first-in-the-nation civil union law, has become the fourth state to permit same-sex marriage. It is also the the very first state to institute same-sex marriage legislatively.

Most of the opposing arguments to same-sex marriage -- outside of religious ones, of course -- have been that the ability for same-sex couples to marry has been granted upon judicial review. Already in Iowa those who oppose the decision are calling for the state's constitution to be rewritten -- a lengthy process in Iowa that would take more than two years.

If there is opposition in Vermont, it will be interesting to see what arguments are made since much of what has been said in Iowa, Connecticut, Massachusetts and even California will not apply.

The UK Guardian is reporting that human trafficking is on the rise in Iraq -- some children sold as sex abuse victims while others are adopted (and presumably wanted by loving families).

...Criminal gangs are profiting from the cheap cost of buying infants and the bureaucratic muddle that makes it relatively easy to move them overseas. Accurate figures are difficult to obtain because there is no centralised counting procedure, but aid agencies and police say they believe numbers have increased by a third since 2005 to at least 150 children a year.

One senior police officer said at least 15 Iraqi children were sold every month, some overseas, some internally, some for adoption, some for sexual abuse. Officials believe at least 12 gangs are operating in Iraq, offering between £200 and £4,000 per child, depending on its background and health. The main countries in which they are sold are Jordan, Turkey, Syria and some European countries including Switzerland, Ireland, the UK, Portugal and Sweden...

There is also a personal story that resulted in a 9-month-old child being sold and his mother subsequently committing suicide.

The dollar amounts above translate to between roughly $300 and $6,000 in our currency.

Human trafficking has historically been one humanitarian issue that bridges many of the cultural divides in our nation. The cases most often reported are those of women who leave poorer nations on the promise of employment elsewhere. Once the women arrive, however, they are often forced to work as prostitutes. The U.S. State Department estimates that between 600,000 and 800,000 people are trafficked across international borders each year -- 70 percent of them women who will be placed in a sex trade.

'Living Downstream' author to speak about dangers of pesticides, other farming substances at the University of Northern Iowa tonight

Driving across a rural Iowa highway, anti-abortion signs are almost as common a sight as farmers spraying crops. Now there is a growing body of evidence linking the substances sprayed on fields to human reproductive health issues, including unintended abortions.

"Abortion means more than just a woman entering a clinic and willfully terminating a pregnancy," said Sandra Steingraber, an ecologist and author invited to speak at the University of Northern Iowa tonight. "It also refers to chemicals we are using in farming. If farming communities -- where we know that pro-life sentiments run strong -- are contributing to fetal death, then that is a disconnect that we need to examine closely."

Steingraber, an internationally recognized expert on the links between environment and human health, believes society has a moral obligation to move toward chemical-free, organic farming. She plans to outline the reasons for that in detail during her visit at UNI, but agreed to speak with Iowa Independent in advance of her appearance.

"It's definitely the chemicalization of farming," Steingraber said, noting that the topic is somewhat related to flood frequency. "When you have these huge runoffs, you get these big burdens of farm chemicals carried downstream. There is definitely a connection between the farm chemicals used in Iowa and the dead zones in the Gulf of Mexico."

Her book "Living Downstream" was the first text that linked environmental and chemical data to the information available from the U.S. cancer registry. For the first time, and through the telling of her own battle with cancer, Steingraber was able to present cancer as a human rights issue.

"Ecologically, we are linked together," she said. "That's why I called my book 'Living Downstream' -- to point to how the things we do in one place affects people in ecological communities and farming downstream."

A study released in 2005 by the Environmental Working Group of the blood taken from 10 umbilical cords revealed an average of 200 industrial chemicals and pollutants in each sample. The umbilical cord blood of the 10 children, collected by the Red Cross after the cord was cut, harbored pesticides, consumer product ingredients and wastes from burning coal, gasoline and garbage. Of the total 287 chemicals identified, 180 are carcinogens and 217 are toxic to the nervous system. In addition, 208 cause birth defects or abnormal development in animal tests.

"There is a growing body of evidence linking exposure to different sources of farm chemicals to problems with reproductive health for both men and women," Steingraber said.

According to Steingraber, the commonly used pesticide methoxyclor has the ability to prevent implantation of an embryo in the uterus.

"When a farm chemical like methoxyclor gets into the body of a woman -- and it gets into the body because it is present in the environment in which she lives -- then she can abort a pregnancy," she said. "I think there is room in this debate for a big conversation about these chemicals. We need to talk about farm chemicals as chemical abortionists, or chemicals that have the ability to extinguish human pregnancies."

Steingraber said this type of discussion is one that can "bridge the gap of the divide in our culture" for abortion.

"Sometimes you can drive in rural areas and see a big pro-life sign and right behind it will be a farmer spraying chemicals that might very well be linked to reproductive problems," she said.

"Having given many presentations and speeches and having lots of conversations in farm country, I've come to believe that there is just a lot of unknowing. When the evidence is placed before people, they tend to be very moved by it."

In addition to the impact on reproductive health, Steingraber believes food security is another key reason people are now more willing to have a discussion about local and organic agriculture.

"The idea that we are food insecure in the middle of the most fertile soil in the world -- that all of our food comes to us floating on barrels of diesel fuel from California and beyond is nuts," she said. "It makes us prone to problems like pathogens in food. MRSA, an antibiotic-resistant staph infection, which is a huge problem in Iowa, may be linked to hog farming operations. But there are a lot of public health problems related to chemical farming. So, rebuilding local and regional food systems and transforming Iowa from a food desert and into a bread basket again is a message that I'll bring."

Health issues that have possible links to farm chemicals include early pubescence in girls, asthma and male genital malformation. And, with at least some of the chemicals, density in the body may only increase from generation to generation. In the EWG study of cord blood samples, for example, researchers found DDT and other pesticides that were banned more than three decades ago.

"Peoples' motivations for seeing these connections and being willing to look at the evidence -- because it is all based on evidence, and there is a lot of data under my feet when I talk about these things -- people have various reasons for looking at this," Steingraber said. "For my mother, who is quite conservative, it was the idea that the Middle East is, in her words, 'holding us hostage' due to our need for foreign oil. So, that's her entree into thinking about the chemicals being used and their links to human health."

(This information is cross-posted from Iowa Independent.)

These are a few of the photographs I took on Friday night at People's Church in downtown Cedar Rapids.

There was a diverse group of people at the church that included quite a few families with young children in attendance. "Even before the ruling, there were already families," one attendee told me after the service.

Another view from the back of the church as the sun was setting. Notice the two large banners flanking the pulpit I spoke briefly about in my previous post today.

This Sunday's earworm is a little bit different. I had found this video in January, shortly after my brother-in-law died, while looking for videos of great black gospel singers. The moment I learned of the Iowa Supreme Court decision on Friday, Rev. Barbara Haynes once again began singing in my head.

Here is Rev. Barbara Haynes of Metropolitan Community Church Los Angeles -- an openly gay born-again Christian -- singing "My God Is Real." Enjoy. (Cathy, I cannot listen to this without thinking of you and missing Jimmie.)

A great deal of the discussion regarding the decision released in Iowa on Friday has been centered around the reaction of the religious community and those of individuals who identify with the Republican Party. While those do seem to be the most organized groups voicing opposition, we should not lose sight of the fact that there are many individuals within the Republican Party who supported the Supreme Court's decision just as there were organized branches of religion doing the same.

Rev. Rich Pleva, United Church of Christ Iowa conference minister, said, "Words can hardly express how delighted and relieved I am for same sex couples in Iowa -- more than a few of whom are my friends -- for whom the Iowa Supreme Court's ruling is a gift."

Pleva has invited Rev. Mike Schuenemeyer, the UCC's minister for lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender concerns, to come to Iowa next week and meet with clergy and lay leaders to discuss the court decision as well as the possible diverse reactions to it. 

"Laws that exclude same-sex couples from the fundamental right to marry cannot be allowed to stand," Schuenemeyer said. "Regardless of how one feels about marriage, this ruling affirms the essential value of America that our laws must protect everyone equally and they must treat everyone with the same dignity, respect, rights and responsibilities." 

The United Church of Christ has 179 local churches in Iowa. In addition, Grinnell College is historically affiliated with the UCC.

And the UCC isn't the only religious group voicing support for marriage equality in Iowa.

"I take heart in these signs of the moral arc of the universe bending toward justice," said Rev. William Sinkford, president of the Unitarian Universalist Association.

In Cedar Rapids Friday evening, lead plantiffs Trish and Kate Varnum attended a celebratory rally at People's Church in downtown -- a Unitarian Universalist congregation. In addition to the handmade signs in the church, the pulpit there has long been flanked by two large banners proclaiming equality, love, justice, hope and a myriad of other words.

There is also a push within the Episcopalian community to approve gay marriage at their summer convention.

I don't speak of things related to faith very often on this blog. The absence is largely intentional as I continue each day to struggle for an answer as to who I am and what I believe... also how the things that I believe fit into the larger community.

What I do understand very well, however, is being a part of a church where sentiments toward justice, love, generousity and kindness rose in contradiction to what I read in holy texts and what I felt in my own heart. There is a great deal of pain involved in leaving a church community and joining another. But for those who are considering, you should also know there is an immense lightening of the heart as well.

Iowan Shane Vander Hart, a person who does not agree with the SC decision, did a little out-loud thinking on what, if anything, he might say in church this morning. Vander Hart also links to Evangelicals Anonymous, where there is a blog post that expresses both discontent with the SC decision and some musings on what a good response looks like. 

I think it will definitely be a little hard to make a good response, when there are folks like Rod Dreher who seems to believe that acknowleding the civil rights of certain groups infringes on his right to be a bigot. As a woman, let me assure Dreher that the laws affirming equal rights don't stop people from saying and doing discriminatory things.

There were also several references -- roll-your-eyes-supposed-jokes -- about the number of livestock animals in Iowa and how that influenced the justices' opinions. These types of things do nothing to advance the dialogue of civil rights, but serve only as fear mongering.

Speaking of saying and doing things that aren't necessarily appropriate or truthful... Andrew Sullivan, via an e-mail from Evan Wolfson, documents who has been writing these supposed "decisions by activist judges." Hint: The Iowa decision was penned by Justice Mark Cady, who was appointed in 1998 by then Gov. Terry Branstad, a Republican. 

The national media, of course, is attempting to draw the dots between the SC decision and the 2012 Iowa caucuses. Once more, and for the record, most of the national political media aren't from Iowa, do not necessarily want Iowa to continue its first-in-the-nation status, and would be willing to give it to any state providing the climate was such to prevent them from dealing with ice and snow. The question here is not if the Iowa decision will impact the 2012 caucuses, but how the Iowa decision will impact the Republican Party of Iowa, which has been nearly dismembered by the ongoing tug-of-war in its own ranks.

If this decision prompts certain angry and seemingly unjustified statements from RPI and local leadership, watch for even more moderate Republicans to stream away from party politics in search of something less religious and more politically minded. 

Steve Buttry of the Cedar Rapids Gazette believes that "Iowa has more important fights than marriage rules." Thanks, Steve. As resident of the flood-striken corridor, I whole-heartedly agree that we have more pressing matters.

Due to those "more pressing matters," let me echo the words of Iowa Sen. Matt McCoy, who encouraged visitors to consider Iowa. As we continue our recovery from the 2008 floods, we could use your help. Come visit. Spend a night in one of hotels or bed and breakfasts. Take in a show. Attend a festival. Go out to dinner or try your luck at a casino. Travel Iowa.

It's been said before, but it deserves to be said again: Iowans are a pragmatic people.

If the straight-forward and unanimous decision by the Iowa Supreme Court wasn't enough to convince the world, then you need look no further than the worries now being expressed in western (read: predominantly conservative) Iowa.

As politicians and social activists despaired or rejoiced an Iowa Supreme Court decision this morning legalizing gay marriage within weeks, the owner of Bridal Country Ltd. In Carroll had a more practical concern.

How does she handle dressing-room arrangements and deal with what may be some changes in clientele?

"We're thinking it may be totally different for us now," said Jackie Pudenz "We have had men come in and try on gowns. I've pretty much seen a lot of things. Now that it's actually law, it takes on whole different aspect."

Pudenz, who has been in the wedding attire business for three decades, said she was talking about the Supreme Court decision's potential impact with an employee this morning.

"The dressing room situation will be more interesting - seriously," Pudenz said.

Trish Varnum, who is now planning a quiet fall wedding, had a difficult time keeping her emotions under control while speaking to Iowa Independent by phone Friday morning.

Trish and her longtime partner, Kate Varnum, were lead plaintiffs in the case which led to a complete striking of an Iowa law that defined marriage as being between one man and one woman.

"You cannot believe how nervous we were last night," Trish said. "We had everyone here [in Des Moines] and, honestly, we just had a very difficult time getting any sleep. There was a very optimistic atmosphere, but, at that same time, there was always a little 'what if' voice in the back of your head.

"I can't even tell you in words the feelings we experienced [when the decision was announced.] Everyone was just in tears. It was so emotionally gratifying to finally be acknowledged as a full citizen of this state with all associated rights and benefits."

The couple, residents of Cedar Rapids in eastern Iowa, had previously told Iowa Independent that their focus was not on history. While Trish maintains that their part in this legal battle was done for personal and historical reasons, she's also ready to accept the fact that their fight will forever be linked with the struggle of same-sex marriage advocates.

"I'm really proud of that fact," she said. "I'm proud that our names will always be linked with this [legal case]. This is a victory for everyone in Iowa -- whether they realize it or not. Iowa was the state where this was always meant to be."

Recounting the numerous ways that Iowa has led the national conversation -- from being first in the nation with the Iowa caucuses to advancing civil rights well before landmark decisions were handed down by the U.S. Supreme Court -- Trish said that historically it is appropriate and logical for Iowa to set a precedent on marriage equality.

"I'm so proud to be a part of Iowa once again leading the way and I know Kate is as well," she said. "Making history in this way? Well, I'll be honest and say that I never expected my name would appear in a history book. But with this situation.. well, I'm all about that. We cannot be more proud to be a part of this."

While there might be some couples who move quickly to attain an Iowa marriage license following the court-imposed 21 day waiting period, Kate and Trish won't be among them. The couple, who already had a larger ceremony, will wait until this fall to quietly make their married status legal in Iowa.

"We've done the big event," Trish said. "And, I know people will likely take this the wrong way, but we feel in our hearts that we are already married in the eyes of God. So, we will do what we have to do to take care of this legal aspect, but it will just be family and close friends."

Trish said that as a couple, she and Kate already have "everything we need," and encouraged those who want to send wedding gifts to instead consider a donation to either Lambda Legal, the national gay and transgendered legal advocacy group that tried the case, or One Iowa, a statewide equality task force.

"The work they have done on behalf of us and on behalf of all the people of Iowa has been outstanding," she said. "It was their hard work that made today possible and we cannot thank them enough."

After releasing a contented sigh she added: "It's a new day in Iowa."

(This item originally published on Iowa Independent, as a part of extended coverage of today's historic Iowa Supreme Court ruling.)

Samantha "Princesse" Revelus, 17, had planned to recite this poem at Milton High School's poetry jam this Thursday in Milton, MA. Because her untimely death has prevented that from happening, I want to reprint it here.

Teach her your method,

Arise from all lies and weak frauds.

Keep her high above,

Embrace with all your attention,

Not to mention your love and affection.

If not yet done,

Then love is worthless

And time will leave you heartless.

For she brings with her nothing but desires,

A home to welcome love and peace,

Which the heart requires.

Ignorant souls travel through her life,

With mud under their feet,

And thorns inducing cries of defeat.

But not one of them,

Not a single one of the filthy souls thought of

Reviving her.

So what lousy wind brought you here?

What values of you offer?

She's a woman,

A queen,

A goddess,

Don't treat her like any other.

Samantha, obviously a very talented poet even at 17, and her younger sister Bianca Revelus, 5, were murdered this past weekend, allegedly at the hand of their older brother. A third sister, 9-year-old Saraphina, was injured but survived the stabbing attack.

There is also a beautiful post about this tragic event on blogher by Nordette, who also blogs at Whose shoes are these anyway?

"The tenants evicted the landlords."

"Refused to allow the people to speak."

"Since when did applause become a protest?"

Let's step away from the spin machine long enough to evaluate the sorry spectacle that occurred last night in Des Moines during a public hearing on proposed legislation to eliminate federal deductibility.

The first speaker was Beth Pearson from the Iowa Policy Project. She voiced support for the idea, citing that it would be a benefit for low-income taxpayers. In response to her comments several individuals in the gallery -- most of them wearing red shirts and representing Iowans for Tax Relief -- protested. To be blunt, the same people screaming this morning about being removed from a public hearing booed an Iowan for expressing her opinion on a proposed piece of legislation.

The audience was warned at that point that the hearing was not to be confused with a sporting event and that such demonstrations were not allowed. But those present didn't stop.

When Lana Ross with Iowa Community Action Agency also voiced her support for the proposed legislation, the audience hissed its disapproval. 

Ed Failor of Iowans for Tax Relief not only spoke in opposition of the bill, but said his organization is telling college students to "get out of Iowa." To this the audience erupted in applause.

Christian Fong, the vice chairman of Generation Iowa and with the Cedar Rapids Small Business Task Force, then spoke in opposition. Following his remarks the public was once again warned that continued demonstrations would result in the clearing of the chamber.

Kelli Soyer of Des Moines and with the National Association of Social workers spoke in support. Steve Kunert of SNK Enterprises in Cedar Rapids spoke against. Lyle Krewson of Iowa Human Needs Advocates spoke in support, and was given a chorus of boos and hisses in response.

Following a few more speakers -- most, if not all, in opposition to the proposed legislation -- and several more outbursts from the audience that had been repeatedly warned to stop demonstrations during the public hearing, the galleries were cleared so that the hearing could continue uninterrupted.

Those being ousted took offense, although their spirited and unison cries of "This is the people's house" told everyone that this is exactly what they were seeking in the first place.

Failor then took the whole incident to a new and shameful level by announcing that Pat Murphy, duly elected speaker of the house, was "a jack-booted Nazi." Interestingly enough the "Nazi" continued the public hearing for more than an hour after the gallery was cleared.

What happened last night in Des Moines was political theater, orchestrated to produce a reponse, with a pre-conceived counter-response.

It just goes to prove that in the world of politics, just as in the world of toddlers, even bad attention is still attention.

But while some choose to play political games for the benefit of the media and cameras so they can send out press releases about pretend outrage and political surges, we still have individuals in Linn County who can't rebuild their homes. We have young people terrified that their lives are going to be washed away again this spring in another flood. We have residents of Postville wondering how they are going to rebuild their shattered community. We have churches worried that they can't meet the needs of the uninsured and unemployed who are now knocking on their doors for help.

And, if the statistics bear any insights, none of these people who can't sleep at night because of real life drama will be impacted by federal deductibility.