Two ISU students took a bold step into legally uncharted waters Friday when they had their same-sex union recognized under Iowa marriage law.

The newlyweds, Sean Fritz, senior in computer science, and Timothy McQuillan, junior in genetics, were married at 10:32 a.m. Friday by the Rev. Mark Stringer of the First Unitarian Church of Des Moines, on the reverend’s front lawn.

“We’re both very happy and excited to be married. It has been an overwhelming day. It’s good to say that we’re married,” Fritz said. “Both of our parents are enthusiastic about the marriage.”

On Aug. 30, Polk County Judge Robert Hanson decreed that the state ban on gay marriage was unconstitutional, but ordered a stay on the issue Friday, effectively stopping the ruling until the appeals process was complete.

The couple had first met over Facebook, and the relationship developed over the proceeding year and two months, Fritz said.

“We arranged to have a coffee date and it went from there,” Fritz said.

Fritz said that they had been engaged for six months and were weighing other marriage options.

Fritz said to get married, they had to first obtain signatures on four different forms and get it to the Polk County recorder’s office to be legalized. The usual three-day waiting period was waved in this case. At 11:30 a.m. Friday, Hanson ordered the stay on the ruling, which stops any more marriages to be legalized.

Julie Haggerty, Polk County recorder, said the office is now under direction from the county attorney to not issue any more same-sex marriage licenses.

Fritz said the move to get married is not based on any political lines.

“Neither of us are activists, we’re just married. We’re both just happy to be married and we’re looking forward to our honeymoon,” Fritz said.

Don McDowell, chairman of ISU College Republicans and senior in political science, said he was disappointed by the ruling.

“I think that it’s obviously disappointing, and it’s a prime example of judicial activism,” McDowell said. “I think what happened today is very undemocratic.”

On the other side of the issue was Stringer, who has in the past experience performed same-sex marriages, and said that although Friday’s union was not conducted under normal circumstances, he was happy to do it.

“As a citizen, I affirm religious organizations that choose to deny same-sex marriages. That’s OK. But in this country, we have the freedom from religion and of religion. It’s a civil rights issue,” Stringer said.