Multnomah County to begin issuing gay marriage licenses

[MissB]

Tomorrow, apparently. Multnomah County includes the city of Portland, Oregon.

http://www.kgw.com/news-local/stories/kgw_030204_news_gay_marriage.4953bd76.html

*snip*
Multnomah County waded into the brewing national maelstrom over same-sex unions by announcing that it plans to issue gay marriage licenses on Wednesday morning.

No Multnomah County commissioners were available to comment on the decision but the board issued a short statement on Tuesday night saying their legal counsel supports the controversial move.
*snip*

[ramapo]

1. Good to see

Brave officials across the country and letting the genie out of the bottle.

[McScotty007]

10. not a repub so don't get mad. Amendment issue

If somehow an amendment does get passed, what do you guys think about that? It appears that roughly 70% of country doesn't want gay marriage, so if it does pass and the Supreme Court were to uphold it, which would be highly unlikely, is that problematic. I don't really care either way on the matter, but if that is what the american people want, I don't have a problem. As I explained on an earlier post I really just started getting politically active and my friends told me of this website. I just like to discuss stuff. It's the lawyer in me

[kysrsoze]

13. Here we go again.....

There is one single reason why this Amendment should not be passed, and if passed, should be struck down by the Supreme Court. It is unconstitutional.

The proposed amendment seeks to deny gays the rights which ALL other Americans enjoy. Whether 70% of the country is opposed to it or not, they have as much right to marry as anyone. The attempt to pass a constitutional amendment banning gay marriage highlights this fact.

Look at the 1st Amendment - Freedom of Speech. This Amendment was passed to protect the rights of those who speak out, whether the rest of the country agrees with them or not. The separation of church and state also seeks to protect the freedoms of the minority.

This is America, the land of the free. Remember? This is supposed to be the country which leads the world in recognizing the freedoms of all its citizens to go about their lives in the way they see fit.

Gays marrying will not injure anyone. It may offend some, but that's tough, isn't it? Nor will it undermine the sanctity of marriage. Skyrocketing divorce rates, infidelity and spousal abuse have already accomplished that. Finally, allowing gay marriage will not cause anyone else to turn gay.

Gay people are biologically different than straight people. This is a fact backed up by scientific research. There are distinct physical differences in the nervous system between gays and straight people. No, this is not a defect either. If you follow that line of thought, that would mean people who have Tourette's Syndrome, seasonal affective disorder, ADHD and even mental retardation should not be allowed to marry.

How about a constitutional amendment guaranteeing that all citizens may enjoy equal rights and benefits, regardless of who they are and what sexual orientation they have? I would think a lawyer, above all people, who recognize the hypocrisy and the blatant denial of equal rights which this proposed amendment seeks.

[HuckleB]

14. So you don't care about the civil rights of your fellow citizens?

I find that hard to swallow.

[kayell]

2. More beautiful happy couples, More standup gov employees

The snowball is gathering speed...

:bounce:

[Ellen Forradalom]

3. Trickle to a flood

The wall's falling. The Christian right can't compete with picture of thousands of beaming, loving couples.

[Politicub]

4. Wow!

This is breathtaking. I'm in tears because I'm so happy with the flood of gay marriages in the U.S!

Bush and his evil amendment proposal was unamerican, and it will be his undoing.

:toast:

[saoirse]

5. A very proud day

For my community!

[mike1963]

6. It seems like this is part of an avalanche that can't really be stopped.

There will obviously be a lot of opposition, but it's close to the 'tipping point' where it becomes inevitable, and it sure seems that a rapidly growing number of people are saying "ok, so what..."

A person I know well here in the buckle of the 'bible belt' told me last night, "If 2 gay people want to marry each other, it won't bother me."
and this is a guy who I've always considered to be homophobic. (He was ..."married" to a woman for a year...)

:eyes:

[dax]

7. Smart MOVE for Portland!!!

Other cities better get their acts together-think of all the tourists coming in here to get married and visit our great hotels, restaurants and traipse in our parks and the new waterfront esplanade-this could turn Portland into the destination resort we need to be-COME ON DOWN!!! and bring your wallets please we have a lot of eager unemployed people hoping their services will be needed! I think other cities will feel like real LOSERS if they sit on the fence on this. Its a great day but don't take your eyes off Haiti they need us now!

[JoFerret]

8. Keep on rolling along

.

[Moderator]

9. ** Official Multnomah County Thread **

This thread remains the original LBN thread on the topic of Multnomah County, Oregon's issuing of same-sex marriage licenses.

Please post any and all links related to this story within this thread.

Thanks, everyone! What great news!! :-D

DU Moderator

[HuckleB]

11. An Incredible Day!

What an incredible day in Portland, Oregon. First, the woman whose court case against the state earned domestic partner benefits for all state employees and helped the county decide to offer licenses to gays and lesbians was kind enough to give up her place at the front of the line and allow someone else to get the first license. And then there was joy everywhere!

For the first time in my life I pitched in for flowers and wrote cards to gay and lesbian friends on their wedding day. You should have seen the smiles on the faces of friends and colleagues this morning. They're so happy to be able to do this after so many years. It's so wonderful to see.

It's about time! Woo hoo!

[TopesJunkie]

15. Right on --

Thanks for the report.

[HuckleB]

12. For full coverage:

http://www.oregonlive.com/special/gaymarriage/