[Vision2020] 07-10-04 Washington Post: Oregon to Register Same-Sex Marriages

[Art Deco aka W. Fox]

Oregon to Register Same-Sex Marriages
Foes Petition for an Amendment to the State Constitution Against the Court's
Ruling


Associated Press
Saturday, July 10, 2004; Page A12


SALEM, Ore., July 9 -- Oregon became the second state to register same-sex
marriage licenses Friday after a state appeals court upheld a lower court order
directing officials to record more than 3,000 marriage licenses issued to
same-sex couples in Multnomah County.

Oregon Attorney General Hardy Myers asked the appeals court to order a hold on
registration while a lawsuit challenging the licenses is pending. Myers played
down the importance of registration, saying it was an administrative act that
would not authenticate the 3,022 marriage licenses Multnomah County issued
earlier this year, because the Oregon Supreme Court has not ruled on the issue.

The lower court in April also ordered Multnomah County -- which includes
Portland -- not to issue more licenses to same-sex couples until there could be
a binding response to the issue from either legislators or the state Supreme
Court.

State recognition of same-sex marriages as valid presumably would entitle the
couples to the same state benefits accorded to heterosexual married couples,
including health care benefits and the right to sue on behalf of a spouse.

Voters may settle the issue in November, inasmuch as a proposed constitutional
amendment to outlaw same-sex marriage appears headed for the ballot.

The Defense of Marriage Coalition, the group leading the fight against same-sex
marriage, has turned in a record 244,000 signatures -- with 100,000 needed to
send the measure to voters.

State officials have until Aug. 1 to validate the signatures.

Steve Wagenhoffer, a gay father who married his partner of 13 years on the first
day Multnomah County began offering marriage licenses to same-sex couples, was
overjoyed after hearing of the appeals court action.

"There's a sense of great relief I feel," he said.

To date, only Massachusetts recognizes same-sex marriage, although Vermont
recognizes civil unions. California, New Jersey and Hawaii have domestic
partnership laws that provide certain legal rights to same-sex couples.



© 2004 The Washington Post Company
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