The Iowa Department of Corrections has reversed its decision to prevent a local woman from taking sick leave to care for her sick partner, according to a press release from the American Civil Liberties Union of Iowa.

Teresa Heck, a prison guard for the Iowa Department of Corrections, initially applied to take leave to care for her spouse, who suffers from ovarian cancer, but she was denied leave because her spouse was of the same sex.

Corrections Department officials said they felt obligated to follow the restrictions of the federal Defense of Marriage Act, which does not recognize same-sex marriage, the release said.

Wednesday, the ACLU — which took Heck’s case — announced that the Corrections Department had decided to grant Heck leave to care for her wife.

"This is a victory for fairness and equality for all legally married Iowans," said Randall Wilson, legal director of the ACLU of Iowa. "It also sets a precedent for other state agencies, making it clear that discriminating against workers based on sexual orientation is not acceptable."

— by Hayley Bruce