July 28, 2004
Anti-Marriage Fight Moves Forward On Two Fronts
State's High Court Takes Case, Opposing Initiative Parties Get Ready
It seems that the Oregon Court of Appeals will be passed over in the court fight over same-sex marriage in Oregon. As KGW reports (and as seen in a statement from the Attorny General's office):
The Oregon Supreme Court agreed this week to review the ACLU's case, bypassing the court of appeals, said the Oregon Attorney General’s office on Wednesday.
"That doesn't happen very often," said Kevin Neely, a spokesman for the attorney general's office, of the Supreme Court’s decision.
According to KGW, "oral arguments before the Supreme Court won’t begin until November or December," which of course comes after the state's voters will decide the fate of what is now known as Measure 36 -- the anti-marriage ballot initiative which would enshrine special rights for opposite-sex couples in the Oregon Constitution.
Speaking of which, the Associated Press reports the measure's opponents "say they have a solid chance of defeating the measure because Oregonians have historically supported equal rights."
Planned Parenthood, Basic Rights Oregon and the American Civil Liberties Union have formed a coalition to fight the measure, calling themselves Equality in Oregon (website may not yet be active).
Then there's the comments of Governor Ted Kulgongoski courtest of the Statesman Journal:
Kulongoski said Oregon voters are independent-minded and progressive and are likely to see the gay-marriage issue in legal terms -- whether the state must extend tax and legal benefits to same-sex couples -- and not as a referendum on the morality of gay unions.
We don't necessarily see how this helps. If this is how voters view it, they might still go ahead and ban same-sex marriage, figuring that they can always assuage their consciences later by giving gays and lesbians those civil unions which are supposed to be good enough for them.
Comments (2)
Bob R. on 28 Jul 2004
FYI, just a couple of days ago I got a call from an pollster for Equality in Oregon to see if I had heard of the initiative and where I stood on it.
I was very quick to interrupt and give my answer that I was definitely voting against it (heck, I wanted to save them time), so I didn't get a glimpse at how they are explaining the issue or framing it in the poll.
- Bob R.
Jason on 29 Jul 2004
Should you, Bob, have said that you intended to vote for the amendment, you would then be asked whether you supported protections for gays and lesbians against home or work related discrimination. Whatever your answer, you would be thanked for your time and wished a goodnight. There are no other questions, nor explanation of the issue. Just a poll.