[Mb-civic] CBC News - OREGON ANNULS 3, 000 SAME-SEX MARRIAGE LICENCES

[CBC News Online]

This email has been sent to you by harry.sifton at sympatico.ca
The following is a news item posted on CBC NEWS ONLINE
at http://www.cbc.ca/news
____________________________________________________
OREGON ANNULS 3,000 SAME-SEX MARRIAGE LICENCES
WebPosted Thu Apr 14 13:17:56 2005

salem, ore.---Oregon's Supreme Court on Thursday nullified close to 3,000
marriage licences issued to same-sex couples by a state county.

The court said Multnomah County has the right to question the
constitutionality of marriage laws, but that the laws are ultimately a
statewide responsibility.

"We conclude that Oregon law currently places the regulation of marriage
exclusively within the province of the state's legislative power," the
court said.

"Today, marriage in Oregon – an institution once limited to opposite-
sex couples only by statute – now is so limited by the state
constitution as well."

The court did leave state legislators an opportunity to create an
alternative to gay marriage, such as a civil union. On Wednesday, Gov.
Ted Kulongoski said he would push for a law allowing same-sex couples to
form civil unions, with many of the same rights as married couples.

Multnomah County started issuing same-sex marriage licences last April,
saying not doing so violated the state constitution.

A judge ordered the county to stop issuing the licences six weeks later,
after close to 3,000 same-sex weddings had taken place.

Massachusetts has allowed gay marriage since May 2004, while Vermont has
offered same-sex civil unions since 2000.

Copyright (C) 2005 CBC. All rights reserved.