Today at 10AM central time three Iowans receive a “Profile in Courage” award from Caroline Kennedy at the JFK Library and Museum in Boston, Mass.

The three recipients were simply doing their job as they saw fit. As judges, they simply made a fair and impartial judgment concerning the application of equality to all. But the case which earned them the award was the infamous Varney v. Brien case concerning the rights of gay citizens to marry their partners. A unanimous Iowa Supreme Court agreed that marriage should be available to all citizens.

Chief Justice Marsha Thurness (pictured above), Justices David Baker and Michael Streit were then run from office by voters in the next election for their part in the decision. They paid for doing their job right by being thrown out of office.

A heartfelt congratulations to Justices Thurness, Baker and Streit on their selection for this prestigious award. And thanks for your courage.