In 2009, the Varnum decision made Iowa the third state to allow same-sex couples to marry.
Fast forward five years later, and 17 states now sanction same-sex marriage, several others allow civil unions, and a U.S. Supreme Court decision ruled a federal same-sex marriage ban unconstitutional.
Today on River to River, host Ben Kieffer takes a look at how public and political attitudes on same-sex marriage have shifted, as well as acknowledging the groups that have remained steadfast in their position.
The guests on today's program include: Kate Varnum, one of the lead plaintiffs in the Iowa Supreme Court Case, Varnum v. Brien, the wife of Trish Varnum, and mother to Alex Varnum; Bruce Gronbeck, Emeritus Professor of Communication Studies at University of Iowa; Jeff Angelo, former Iowa State Senator from 1997-2009 (R), founder of Iowa Republicans for Freedom; and Chuck Hurley, President of the Family Policy Center, also of The Family Leader (was their President at time of the Varnum ruling).