While you've been distracted by matters such as the economic stimulus bill and the government's plan for bailing out Wall Street banks, you probably missed an important story of the week:

Groups supporting homosexuality are attempting to co-opt Valentine's Day to promote their agenda. Homosexual activists brought "gay-wedding" cake to the Capitol yesterday, and were lobbying for a radical change to Iowa marriage law. They have asked their supporters to write letters to the editor this week calling for the redefinition of marriage. They are using Facebook, Myspace, Twitter, and text messaging to promote their agenda. Each of their efforts is designed to "change the hearts and minds of Iowa legislators."

That is an excerpt from a message the religious conservative Iowa Family Policy Center e-mailed to its supporters yesterday. I learned of it from the advocacy group One Iowa, which has organized lots of events this week promoting marriage equality. They drew 80 supporters to the state capitol on Tuesday to speak with legislators before and during a "Let Them Eat Cake" reception.

I don't think the Iowa Family Policy Center needs to worry, though. Same-sex marriage advocates will never co-opt Valentine's Day as successfully as florists and those who sell candy and greeting cards have already co-opted the feast day of Saint Valentine. In fact, Christians may themselves have co-opted the Roman festival of Lupercus, which took place on February 14 and 15.

I'm posting about this today because I believe marriage equality advocates in other states can learn from what One Iowa is doing here. In conjunction with partners such as Lambda Legal, they are scheduling movie screenings as well as marriage equality and "Let My Parents Marry" town hall meetings across the state--not only in Des Moines and some liberal college towns. They are strengthening PFLAG chapters in Iowa too. They recently released a report by the Williams Institute of the UCLA School of Law about the expected budget impact of legalizing same-sex marriage in Iowa (pdf file).

I'm impressed by One Iowa's level of activity, given that it may be months before the Iowa Supreme Court issues a ruling in the Varnum v Brien case on same-sex marriage. The Iowa legislature is unlikely to take up this matter before the 2010 session. Even if social conservatives were able to get a Proposition 8-style constitutional amendment through the legislature (which I consider unlikely), the soonest Iowans could vote on the measure would be 2011.

If gay marriage does eventually come to a public referendum in Iowa, the work that One Iowa is doing now will pay dividends.

Even if your state seems years away from moving toward same-sex marriage rights, it probably isn't too early for grassroots organizing on the issue. Someday those PFLAG chapters and other social networks could increase your leverage with policy-makers.

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My weekend in Philadelphia began late Friday night. I had the esteemed pleasure to go pub crawling with Chelsea Clinton and Ed Rendell around Philadelphia's 'gayborhood.' The outpouring of support for Hillary and warm welcome that Chelsea received from the GBLT community tugged at my heartstrings, and it reminded me of what a terrific place my hometown of Philadelphia is.

All photos courtesy of Jon Winkleman

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It's a grey Saturday here at Jack and Jill Politics. The perfect weather to spend listening to the soothing bluesy sounds of "The Incredible Jimmy Smith" album: Back at the Chicken Shack. Don't take my word for it. It says right on the cover art over the chicken coop and above the black-and-white dog in big red letters that he's incredible.

First a word: Jack and Jill Politics is looking for local minority-authored blogs to start building a blogroll. We want to find more progressive blogs covering politics in the states like CTBlogger (CT), Where Is the Outrage (NC), Vivian Paige (VA) and Black At Michigan (MI) with voices that can add new perspectives. If you are a local minority blogger or know a local minority blog that deserves a little more attention, please leave the link in the comments or email us at jjpolitics at gmail.com. Thanks in advance!

Mama's got a lot to do today and I bet you do too. So I'm gonna hit you with some quick links to check out in our weekly roundup of what's happening at the crossroads where minorities and politics meet.

* First, this Mark Foley Predatorgate coverup thing is not partisan despite Republican efforts to make it so. That's why they are going to lose and lose big in the elections. It's not Democrat vs. Republican; it's Right vs. Wrong. The cover-up caused even conservative Christian Black blogger La Shawn Barber to dig deep and question her loyalty to the current GOP leadership. Furthermore, Wanda Sykes would like you to know that Foley is giving alcohol a bad name. (Thanks to the Huffington Post for the link!) I would like to know why Mark Foley is in rehab and  not in jail. Isn't what he did somehow against some law somewhere?

* Republic of T breaks it down on attempts to connect homosexuality and pedophilia. This is wrong and ignorant, Margaret Cho agrees. Hopefully, pastors will keep that in mind in church this Sunday. Let's keep the hate where it belongs: directed at child molesters and not at the GLBT community, ok?

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