The Iowa Supreme Court unanimously decided Friday that a law declaring marriage to be between a man and a woman is unconstitutional, making its state the first in the Midwest to approve same-sex marriage.

Iowa's court ruled that same-sex marriage would become legal on April 24, and the law would apply to any couple who wanted to travel to Iowa. The county attorney who defended the law said he would not seek a rehearing. The only alternative for opponents appears to be a constitutional amendment, which would be considered in 2011 at the earliest.

To change the Iowa Constitution requires a resolution to be adopted in the exact same form by the House and the Senate of two consecutive General Assemblies before the issue would go before voters for ratification, according to the Cedar Rapids Gazette.

The Vermont House voted this week to allow same-sex couples to marry in the state, but the governor is expected to veto the decision next week. Massachusetts, Connecticut, and California State Supreme ...

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