Iowa

An Iowa District Court ordered that the state's Department of Public Health must include Melissa and Heather Gartner - both names of married same-sex parents - on their children's birth certificates. The two moms sued the Iowa Department of Public Health after officials refused to include the name of their child's non-biological parent on the child's birth certificate unless the non-biological parent adopted the child.

Native Iowan and the host of Iowa Outdoors on Iowa Public Television, Scott Siepker, created a video dispelling some of the common stereotypes about Iowa. “The main objective was just to make people laugh,” Siepker, 29, said. The video, titled “Iowa Nice,” does have more serious purposes as well.

Hawaii and Delaware join the list of states which recognize same-sex civil unions. Illinois, New Jersey, and Rhode Island already recognize civil unions providing state-level spousal rights to same-sex couples. Six other states and Washington, D.C. allow same-sex marriage - creating a patchwork of U.S. legislation for same-sex couples who want to legalize their unions. Marriage licenses are given to same-sex couples in Massachusetts, Connecticut, Iowa, Vermont, New Hampshire, New York and D.C. California's struggle for marriage equality is stayed pending an appeal.

“Why do you hate gay people so much,” someone in the audience screamed as Ricky Perry wrapped up a campaign stop in Ames, IA without taking questions from the audience. “Go back to Texas” another screamed from the back of the packed coffee house. Perry [seen here with an IA corn dog] is running an ad that says President Obama has waged war on religion and questions why it’s OK for gays to serve openly in the military yet school prayer is forbidden.

Melissa Gartner, 41, and Heather Gartner, 39, sued the state when the Iowa Department of Public Health refused in 2009 to list both names on the birth certificate of their daughter, Mackenzie. Iowa District Judge Eliza Ovrom heard arguments in the case recently and will issue a written ruling at a later date. Camilla Taylor, the Gartners' lawyer, argued that the state lists married men on birth certificates, even when it's impossible for them to be the biological father. She also cited the Iowa Supreme Court case that struck down a same-sex marriage ban in 2009.

Zach Wahls (pic), an engineering student at the University of Iowa, spoke to an audience about his experience growing up with two moms at Pennsylvania College of Technology recently. Wahls said his biological mother Terry conceived him by artificial insemination by Donor 1033, "a 6-foot-6 pianist." Though Wahls thinks it would be "cool" to meet his biological father, he says he has no interest in developing a relationship with him. He compared meeting his biological father to an adopted child meeting their biological parents - they didn't raise the child.

Gay and lesbian students at the University of Iowa are seeking their own floor in a residence hall on the Iowa City campus. Quentin Hill of the GLBT Allied Union is working with the university to open the floor for the 2012 school year. The option has already been added for students on the 2012 fall housing application. Hill, a freshman from Eagle Grove, IA, says the group asked University Housing and Dining to offer the option on housing applications ahead of the current year, but only 10 students signed up. Hill says it needs to be better advertised.