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Thursday, March 4,2004
Since 1900 University of Oregon Eugene, Oregon
Volume 105, Issue 113
Multnomah Co. issues gay-marriage licenses
Same-sex couples jump at the chance
to obtain marriage licenses in Portland
By Jan Tobias Montry
Managing Editor
PORTLAND — Multnomah County on
Wednesday began distributing marriage licenses
to same-sex couples for the first time in Oregon's
history, drawing more than 100 eager couples to
Southeast Portland to obtain certificates.
Shortly after being among the first same-sex
couples in Oregon to receive a marriage license,
40-year-old Mary Li of Portland and her partner,
42-year-old Becky Kennedy, were officially wed.
The ceremony marked the first for Multnomah
County, the fourth jurisdiction in the country to
recognize same-sex marriage.
More than 100 guests and media officials
packed into a small room at the Portland Hilton
and Executive Tower at 10 a.m. to witness the emo
tional 10-minute marriage ceremony. Former
Turn to PORTLAND, page 16
Lane County
awaits advice
from counsel
The pending legal opinion
will determine if same-sex
marriage is allowed locally
By Nika Carlson
News Reporter
While Multnomah County officials are
now issuing marriage licenses to gay cou
ples, the future of same-sex marriage in
Lane County remains uncertain.
The county, which regulates marriage
within its jurisdiction, is not giving mar
riage licenses to same-sex couples. The
Lane County Board of Commissioners,
however, is awaiting the opinion from its
legal counsel as to whether same-sex mar
riage is legal under state law.
Legal counsel is unsure when that opin
ion will be delivered because interpreting
the law is a difficult task.
"I need to do a good job on this," Lane
County Counsel Teresa Wilson said.
"Too many people's lives could be affect
ed by it."
In February 1992, Lane County legal
counsel decided that the county was not
required under the state constitution to is
sue marriage licenses to same-sex couples.
Turn to LANE CO., page 4
ABOVE: Eric Warshaw emerges from Multnomah County headquarters Wednesday morning. Warshaw and his husband, Stephen
Knox, were the first same-sex couple to receive a marriage license. LEFT: Newly married Deborah Penn (left) and Barbara
Thompson seal their vows on the steps of the county building Wednesday. RIGHT: Mary Li (left) and Becky Kennedy, the first
lesbians to be legally married in Oregon, had a wedding ceremony at the Portland Hilton and Executive Tower Wednesday morning.
OREGON
MARRIAGE LAWS
• Oregon Revised Statutes state: "A
civil contract entered into in person by
males at least 17 years of age and
females at least 17 years of age, who
are otherwise capable, and solemnized
in accordance with ORS 106.150."
• Article I, Section 20 of the Oregon
Constitution states: "No law shall be
passed granting to any citizens or class
of citizens privileges, or immunities,
which, upon the same terms, shall not
equally belong to all citizens.”
• Multnomah County Attorney Agnes
Sowle concluded in a five-page opinion
that denying marriage certificates to
same-sex couples in any county violates
the Oregon Constitution, adding that the
Oregon law does not specifically prohibit
same-sex marriage.
• Marriage certificates issued in
Multnomah County are valid statewide
and cost $60, and residents of other
counties can obtain a license in
Multnomah. However, Oregon
marriages may not be recognized in
other states, depending on the other
state's marriage law.
SOURCES: Multnomah County Attorney
and Basic Rights Oregon
students disagree about same-sex marriage
Some say the practice violates God's
plan; others applaud the decision
By Jared Paben
Senior News Reporter
Same-sex couples wed for the first time in
Oregon's history Wednesday after the Multnomah
County Board of Commissioners' office began is
suing marriage licenses to same-sex couples, mak
ing it only the fourth local government in the na
tion to do so.
Protesters, police and hundreds of same-sex cou
ples looking for licenses converged on the county
headquarters in Southeast Portland Wednesday
morning, the day after the Board of Commissioners
first announced it would begin issuing licenses to
same-sex couples.
University students who learned about
Wednesday's developments had different reac
tions to the news.
Sophomore Lizzi Esterberg, who is majoring in
Turn to REACTIONS, page 4
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