August 30, 2007: An Iowa district court ruled that same-sex couples can marry based on the state constitution's guarantee of equal treatment.

The ruling was made in response to a lawsuit filed by six same-sex couples in December 2005 after they had been denied licenses to wed.

The court also struck down a state law declaring valid marriages are only between a man and woman.

• Lambda Legal is the national non-profit organization that filed the Iowa court case of behalf of six same-sex couples that had been denied marriage licenses in 2005.

• Lambda Legal: Iowa Court Issues Decision: Same-Sex Couples Must Be Allowed to Marry (August 30, 2007)

• CNN: Couple weds before same-sex marriages halted (August 31, 2007)

• The New York Times: Judge Overturns Iowa Ban on Same-Sex Marriages (August 31, 2007)

• CNN: Iowa court rules same-sex couples can marry (August 31, 2007)

• Guardian Unlimited: Judge Strikes Down Iowa Gay Marriage Ban (August 31, 2007)

• BBC News: Iowa judge approves gay weddings (August 31, 2007)

• Boston Globe: Romney bashes Iowa judge for striking down ban on gay marriage (August 30, 2007)

• ABC News: Judge Strikes Down Iowa Gay Marriage Ban (August 31, 2007)

• 365Gay.com: Gay Couples Begin Applying for Marriage Licenses in Iowa (August 31, 2007)

• Advocate.com: Iowa judge rules against same-sex marriage ban (August 31, 2007)