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MARRIAGES
continued from page 1
the intervention would slow the case's
progress to higher courts. The parties
involved in the suit all agreed to an
"accelerated timeline" to expedite the
case, which will likely decide the con
stitutionality of Oregon's existing
marriage statutes, according to Kevin
Neely, spokesman for Oregon Attor
ney General Hardy Myers. A speedy
resolution to the case is necessary to
bring consistency to counties across
the state, Neely said.
"Our position is that we need to re
solve this matter as quickly as possi
ble," he said.
On Wednesday, the American Civil
Liberties Union filed the suit, which
consolidates several prior suits for and
against same-sex marriage on behalf
of nine gay couples. Five of the cou
ples were married with county licens
es, but were denied legal recognition
and marriage licenses by the state,
ACLU of Oregon Executive Director
David Fidanque said. The other cou
ples have been denied marriage li
censes by their respective counties.
Fidanque said that the ACLU will
be arguing on behalf of the nine cou
ples that the state's refusal to issue li
censes to all couples violates Article 1,
Section 20 of the Oregon Constitu
tion. Basic Rights Oregon, a gay-rights
advocacy group that worked with the
ACLU to persuade the Multnomah
County Board of Commissioners to
begin issuing same-sex marriage li
censes, is also involved in the case.
The Defense of Marriage Coalition
and Multnomah County officials will
also intervene in the suit to bring all
the relevant parties into the case. The
Coalition agreed to drop two prior
suits designed to halt same-sex mar
riage to help expedite the case..
Oral arguments will begin April 19,
pending any delays. Judge Bearden's
decision will be appealed by the los
ing party and will go to the Oregon
Court of Appeals, which will decide
whether it wants to hear the case or
send it directly to the Oregon
Supreme Court, Fidanque said.
Among the plaintiffs are Universi
ty law Professor Dominick Vetri and
his longtime partner, Doug DeWitt.
Vetri resides in Linn County, which
has not granted same-sex marriage li
censes. He said the case is both per
sonally significant and a milestone
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for gay rights.
"Marriage is the last major barrier
to equal respect and concern under
American law for gays and lesbians,"
Vetri said.
While the case makes its way
through the court system, the majori
ty of counties continue to abide by the
attorney general's interpretation of
Oregon marriage statutes.
Neely said the attorney general ad
vised all counties to follow past prac
tices by only issuing marriage licenses
to male-female couples until a
Supreme Court ruling.
Fidanque said he approved of Ben
ton County's decision to stop issuing
marriage licenses to all couples as a
temporary measure, adding that cou
ples eager to marry can receive a mar
riage license from a neighboring
county and perform the wedding cer
emony in Benton County.
"Either you issue licenses to all
couples, gay and straight, or you
don't issue marriage licenses to any
body — that's the only way yoy can
treat all couples equally and avoid vi
olating the Oregon Constitution," Fi
danque said.
Benton County commissioners
could not be reached for comment.
Lane County spokeswoman Melin
da Kletzok said the Lane County
Board of Commissioners has not of
ficially discussed issuing same-sex
marriage licenses and is waiting for a
Supreme Court decision.
But Basic Rights Oregon spokes
woman Rebekah Kassell said she is
"not satisfied" with Lane County's de
cision not to grant same-sex marriage
licenses.
"It's disappointing that they would
not protect the constitutional rights of
many citizens who want to get mar
ried there," Kassell said.
Contact the city/
state politics reporter
at parkerhowetl@dailyemerald.com.
www.dailyemeraid.com
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