Image provided by: University of Oregon Libraries; Eugene, OR
About Just out. (Portland, OR) 1983-2013 | View Entire Issue (March 19, 2004)
march 19.2004 - rTïï!T7!ïï7ni71net(;s Continued from P age 15 Just O U t 17 W ashington S tate T h e S ta te o f th e U n io n ity Club of Portland sponsored a fomm March 17 to assess the rapid ly changing institution of marriage. Among the panelists was Mary Pitman Kitch, who serves on The Oregonian edi torial board, which has repeatedly slammed the Multnomah County Com mission’s decision to issue marriage licenses to same-sex couples. “Our opinions on gay marriage are still evolving,” she said. “If you polled the members of the editorial board, I know one thing they would tell you for certain, PFLAG parents Donna and Arthur Saffir testify against and that is: ‘Gee, this is so sudden. This is a proposed county charter amendment March 9 happening so fast.’ ’’ Lewis &. Clark professor Stephen Kanter Civil Liberties Union of Oregon executive focused on constitutional legal matters, admit director, recalled the case of a Japanese Ameri ting that the marriage question is a close call. can World War II veteran who was prohibited by state law from owning land when he returned “Every law discriminates in one way or another, so deciding what kind of discrimination is per home. mitted is the tough thing,” he said, “and it “If you had been county commissioners in depends on what level of scrutiny the court will 1946 when Kenny Namba tried to record his prop use on this matter to determine whether a ban on erty deed, would you have told him he couldn’t same-sex marriage is constitutional or not.” because the law didn’t allow it? Or would you have Ux)ked at the Oregon Bill of Rights, which requires equal treatment for all citizens.7” Fidanque B e n to n C o u n ty P ro p o se s M arriag e asked. “The Oregon Constitution requires you to do the right thing and stop the discrimination he Benton County Commission followed against same-sex couples.” Multnomah’s lead March 16 by voting in favor of same-sex marriage. Licenses will be The ACLU and BRO say they will continue issued to gay and lesbian couples beginning at to explore all legal options available to end mar 9 a.m. March 24 in Corvallis. riage discrimination throughout the state. Attor The 2-1 vote followed more than 2 1/2 hours neys might file suit in one or more of the coun of public testimony overwhelmingly in favor of ties that choose to ignore the constitution and deny licenses to same-sex couples. JM marriage equality. David Fidanque, American é L awsuit F iled 1 , ambda Legal and the N orthwest -/Women’s Law C enter filed a lawsuit March 8 in state court in Seattle seeking the right to marry for same-sex couples in Washington. T h e case, on behalf of six same-sex couples who were denied mar riage licenses at the King County C lerk’s office, argues that denying marriage to same-sex couples violates the state consti tution’s guarantees o f equality, liberty and privacy for all Washingtonians. “As long as gay couples cannot marry, they are not treated equally under the law,” said Jamie Pedersen, co-chairman of Lamb da Legal’s board of directors and an attor ney at the Seattle law firm Preston G ates & Ellis. “This case seeks full marriage for les bian and gay couples in Washington— nothing more and nothing less.” Washington is among 38 states with laws explicitly prohibiting same-sex cou ples from marrying. T h e lawsuit seeks a judgment that would strike that state law down as unconstitutional and would order King County to issue marriage licenses to same-sex couples. “Over the last few weeks and months, les bians and gay men in Washington have seen couples marrying to the north in Canada and to the south in Portland,” said Jennifer C . Pizer, senior staff attorney in Lambda Legal’s Western Regional Office. “Our clients are paying Washington taxes and sending their children to Washington schools— they need P arties H appe © 2003 C00RS BREWING COMPANY • GOLDEN. COLORADO 80401 • BEER the protections only marriage provides, and they need them here at home.” S eattle M ayor : “I t * s a M atter of F airness ” eattle Mayor Greg N ickels signed an executive order M arch 8 that would give married city employees equal rights regardless o f whether they are straight or gay. He will also send the C ity C ouncil a proposed ordi nance to extend these protections to others throughout Seattle. “W h en my wife, Sharon, and I want to do something like refinance our house or visit a family member in the hospital, absolutely no one challenges us about the legitimacy o f our marital status,” Nickefc said. “It’s long past time that gay and lesbian couples who love each other ami get married receive that same recognition.” T h e city o f Seattle cannot directly change the law that bars same-sex marriages, but it can ensure city employees and citizens are not discriminated against because o f their marital status. “W ithin our lifetimes the marriages of inter racial couples were not recognized in many states and many cities. Fortunately, that has changed,” gay City Councilor Tom Rasmussen said. “Now, gay and lesbian couples are seeking the same rights as all married couples to be able to live and travel freely without fear that their relationship will be disrespected. T he right of gay and lesbian people to marry is fundamental to our equality and humanity.” JP1 S
