Multnomah County Judge Bearden overturns Oregon marriage law

[0rganism]

News flash from Basic Rights Oregon:

Ruling by Multnomah County Judge Bearden finds Oregon marriage law
unconstitutional. Basic Rights Oregon celebrates this victory!

The ruling released today by the Multnomah County Court is historic.
Judge Bearden ruled that there is no justifiable basis for
discrimination based on sexual orientation or gender. The ruling
also requires the State of Oregon to recognize the marriages between
same-sex couples who have already gotten married in Multnomah
County. Couples already married are the first couples in the country
to be legally recognized by any state.

This decision, however, requests that the Oregon state legislature
create a remedy to the unconstitutional marriage statute within 90
days. During that time, Multnomah County is ordered to stop issuing
licenses to same-sex couples. After 90 days, if a remedy has not
been agreed upon, Multnomah County will be required to resume the
issuing of marriage licenses to same-sex couples.

Like many court decisions, this one is complex and contains both
positive and negative components. We are overjoyed that Oregon's
discriminatory marriage law will not be allowed to stand. We are
pleased that the State will recognize the marriages of thousands of
Oregonians who were legally wed since. We are disappointed, however,
that the decision requires that the county discriminate while the
legislature takes up the issue.

You are invited to celebrate with Basic Rights Oregon this evening.
Details will be sent shortly.

Basic Rights Oregon will continue to update you with the latest news
on our website and in our email update. Thank you for your support
in this historic time!

[stevedeshazer]

1. Mixed message, no?

If Judge Bearden found that that "there is no justifiable basis for
discrimination based on sexual orientation or gender", then what basis is there for his request that the Legislature "create a remedy"?

The upcoming legislative session was supposed to address the state budget and tax reform. Now, all the mouth-breathers in the Lege will highjack the session and turn it into a moral debate on gay marriage.

Meanwhile, the public concerns about schools, roads, bridges, economy, job losses, et cetera will remain unaddressed.

It's going to be a circus, IMO.

[0rganism]

2. yup, very mixed indeed

I think what Bearden's demanding is a law that codifies marriage within the boundaries of the constitution, which will be great for gay people -- unless the mouth breathers manage to ammend the constitution. Plus, if they don't figure it out in 90 days, Multnomah can go back to issuing marriage licenses. tick, tick, tick....

There is no way the legislature can constructively address public concerns about infrastructure anyway. Oregonians voted to withhold taxes, so the only thing we can do is cut programs. Every bit of time wasted in floor debates re gay marriage laws is time not spent on slashing the budget.