Oregon DUers - Attorney General wants input re: same sex marriages

[central scrutinizer]

http://www.doj.state.or.us/

then click on the link "Same Sex Marriages"

[rucky]

1. Thanks!

Responded & forwarded the link.

[fob]

7. Minor thread hijack - Where are those pictures from?

What event I mean. The properties show its from the johnkerry.com blog but its in the archives, i tried to cut and paste but got 404'd. Do you have to sign up or donate or something? He's GOTTA put out a campaign commercial with him playing hockey, that's too awesome!

[Name removed]

2. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[Robin Hood]

3. Excellent, here's my letter.

I am writing in support of same sex marriage. I am straight but for me this is not about sexual prefference. For me this is about two consenting adults who love each other and want to share each other's lives.

Any two consenting adults who wish to marry should be encouraged to do so. It's a matter of equal rights and compassion. Allowing same sex couples to marry IS the way to save the faltering institution of marriage. Lord knows that straight folk have made a mockery of the institution.

If we really feel that marriage is being harmed then perhaps the state can take a more aggressive stand against spousal abuse. THere are many fronts that are attacking the institution of marriage, same sex couples is not one of them.

Sincerely

Christian Florin.

[eeyore]

4. thanks! here's my letter....

Attorney General Myers:

Thank you for requesting public input on the issue of same sex marriage. I am married heterosexual male, age 35, and I have the pleasure of knowing 6 same sex married couples. Every one of these couples was married in their own ceremonies previous to the Multnomah County decision to begin performing marriages. These are people who felt the need to publicly and symbolically dedicate themselves to each other in a marriage ceremony, regardless of whether the state would recognize their commitment. Many would say that if they want to do that privately, that's their own business, but we as a state have no obligation to accord them the same legal status as a heterosexual married couple. I believe those people are wrong.

Two women friends of mine were married three years ago and I attended their joyous wedding reception. All of their family members attended, and the spirit was one of lighthearted celebration of their commitment to each other. Last year one of the women, who is in her mid-30's, developed a cancerous brain tumor. She has been in treatment ever since, but there is concern that she may not beat the cancer. In the eyes of the law, if she were to die, her wife would have very limited rights to full inheritance of the property that they own together. Were there to come a time to make a life support decision, their homosexuality would force the power of attorney not to her wife, but to her next of kin. Her parents or a sibling, in theory, could decide to keep her alive against her express wishes to her wife, even if she had not been in contact with them for decades. Luckily they both come from families that are very supportive of their marriage.

All I ask is, how is my marriage any different from theirs? We are the same age, live in the same city, and have an equal commitment to our respective chosen mates. Yet, to the state, I am afforded more rights simply because I happened to have been born heterosexual. I believe this to be as wrong as denying women and people of color the right to vote.

Our laws should work to uplift our citizens, not keep them down. I hope that you will come to the same conclusion that I have, and that you will uphold Multnomah County's right to recognize same sex marriages.

Thank You -

Edit: fixed a typo

[Arugula Latte]

5. Thanks!

This hetero will definitely send my pro-gay-marriage 2 cents worth.

[fob]

6. Good for the AG and the citizens of Oregon.

That headline is funny though, in a double entendre kinda way.