Judge Upholds Oregon
Gay Marriage Ban
Ban Was Approved by
Voters in Nov. 2004
By BRAD CAIN, AP from
ABC News on the Web, November 4, 2005
SALEM, Ore. -- A judge on
Friday upheld a gay marriage ban adopted last year by Oregon voters, sweeping
aside arguments by gay rights supporters that the measure was flawed.
In his ruling, Marion County Circuit Judge Joseph Guimond rejected opponents'
arguments that Measure 36 contained too many changes that should have been voted
on as separate amendments. Critics also said it interfered with local
governments' home rule rights.
Friday's ruling was the latest setback for gay rights backers in Oregon, where
more than 3,000 marriage licenses were granted to same-sex couples in Multnomah
County in the spring of 2004 before a judge halted the practice.
The constitutional ban on gay marriage was overwhelmingly approved by Oregon
voters in the November 2004 election.
Short of achieving full marriage rights, gay rights backers mounted an effort in
the Legislature earlier this year to pass a civil unions bill extending most of
the benefits and rights of marriage to same-sex couples, but the bill died in
the Oregon House.
Gay rights activists had hoped that a favorable ruling from Guimond would create
new political momentum for efforts to extend benefits to same-sex couples.
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