Federal Judge Struck Down Oregon's Voter Approved Ban on Same Sex Marriage
Thursday, March 28, 2024
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Omar Mendoza, left, and Rodolfo Navarro, Right, Were the First Same-Sex Couple to Come Into the

Washington County Services Building in Hillsboro, Oregon to Get a Marriage License

Same-sex couples camped out in lawn chairs outside a government building in Oregon's largest county while waiting for the news, then cheered as word of the judge's decision spread on Monday May 19, 2014.  Multnomah County began issuing marriage licenses to same-sex couples minutes later, the county said in a statement.

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Jeff Salchenberg, left, Kisses Paul Reinwand After Getting Married

at the Melody Ballroom in Portland, Oregon

Ben West, one of the plaintiffs who challenged Oregon's constitutional ban, stood beside his fiance and his son as he expressed: "I am thrilled by the news.  "We're excited. It's surreal. We're part of history. Our family is recognized, I mean, I'm tingling. It's amazing," he said. "It means that my son's family is just as legitimate as the one next door, and that he can grow up proud." At a news conference shortly after the judge's ruling, activists and attorneys who challenged the amendment celebrated the news.

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Julie Engbloom, Left, and Laurie Brown, Right, Celebrate

Getting Married by Judge Beth A. Allen at the Melody Ballroom

"Love won today," said Marty Rouse, national field director for the Human Rights Campaign. Ten years ago, Rouse said, the first same-sex marriages in the United States were celebrated in Massachusetts. And 45 years ago marked another historic moment, he said. "Same-sex couples were arrested and sent to jail for dancing together at establishments like the Stonewall Inn," he said. "Today, 45 years later, in 18 states and now including Oregon and the District of Columbia, same-sex couples are dancing together at their own weddings, and they have wedding rings, not handcuffs. History in Oregon. Congratulations."

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Julia Fraser, Left, and Jessica Rohrbacher, Right, Get Married by

Celebrant Holly Pruett at the Melody Ballroom in Portland, Oregon

Meanwhile, the National Organization for Marriage, which opposes same-sex marriage, said it had filed a motion with the 9th Circuit Court of Appeals asking judges to block McShane's ruling.

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