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V o l u m e 21 ♦ N u m b e r 2 ♦ N o v e m b e r 21, 2003
In our own words
As World AIDS Day approaches,
long-term survivors and activists
share how HIV has changed their lives
P o r t la n d , O r e g o n
FREE
PHOTO BY TIMOTHY
Through adoption foster families
artificial insemination and surrogacy,
Portland gays and lesbians
are learning how to become parents
Margaret H. Marshall, said: “The Massachusetts
he Massachusetts Supreme G x irt has
G institution affirms the dignity and equality of all
finessed the issue o f gay marriage. It
individuals. It forbids the creation of second-class
agreed that same-sex couples have the
citizens...the commonwealth has failed to identi
right to wed hut left it to legislators to
determine how that will be carried out. If gave fy any constitutionally adequate reason for deny
ing civil marriage to same-sex couples.”
them 180 days to do so. T h e approach is simi
Reviewing state marriage law and its imple
lar to one taken by the Vermont courT in
mentation, the court summarized, “ In short, for
addressing that same issue.
all the joy and solemnity that normally attend
A decision on the case, known as
a marriage, (the law| governing entrance to
Gixidridge vs. Department o f Public Health,
marriage is a licensing law."
had been expected months ago but wasn’t
T h e court rejected the state’s argument that
procreation is the primary purpose o f marriage.
It said, “T h e exclusive and permanent commit-
T
State Supreme Court
legalizes same-sex marriage
B> B ob Rot hr
merit o f the marriage partners to one another”
is the essential qualification for marriage.
The decision cited “ the immeasurable
advantages that flow from the assurance o f ‘a
stable family structure in which children will
he reared, educated and socialized’ " and found
no rational basis “ to penalize children by
depriving them of state benefits" because of
their parents’ sexual orientation. “T h e marriage
ban works a deep and scarring hardship on a
very real segment o f the community for no
rational reason.”
Continued on Page 22