KTIV NewsChannel 4 Sioux City IA: News, Weather and SportsGay couple awaits Supreme Court ruling on same-sex marriage ban

Gay couple awaits Supreme Court ruling on same-sex marriage ban

SIOUX CITY, Iowa (KTIV) - It's been three years since a gay couple, in Sioux City, was denied a marriage license. But, it may take another year for Iowa's highest court to decide whether they can be legally married.

A district court judge ruled in favor of Jason Morgan and Chuck Swaggerty, when they took their denial of a marriage license to court. But, the decision is currently on appeal in the Iowa Supreme Court.

Morgan and Swaggerty say they've been together for a decade. They share a mortgage, and have adopted two children. They say to be fair they should be allowed to be married.

They've had their day in court. On Tuesday, they testified before the state Supreme Court. Now, their waiting for a decision, which may take a year for the high court to make. "And we're very optimistic, about what the outcome maybe, and we expect it could be months to hear their ruling sometime in 2009 is what we're expecting," said Morgan.

Morgan and Swaggerty say their life is everything you would find in a traditional marriage. They say it's important to their family to have the same rights and responsibilities that a married couple has. "We're glad we are setting an example to our children to stand up for their rights and for our rights," Morgan said.

Lambda Legal filed the lawsuit in 2005 on behalf of the six gay and lesbian Iowa couples who were denied marriage licenses.

After the Polk County District Court Judge ruled that the state law banning gay marriage was unconstitutional he put his decision on hold the next day.