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About Portland observer. (Portland, Or.) 1970-current | View Entire Issue (March 17, 2004)
March 17.2004 Jîortlanô (©bseruer Page A3 Gay Marriages Upheld County won’t back down on equality issue (API — Until a judge rules otherwise, gay couples can continue applying for marriage licenses in Portland. Despite a plea to halt the practice from Gov. Ted Kulongoski and a nonbinding opinion by Oregon Attorney General Hardy Myers that gay marriage is illegal under current state law but likely violates the state constitution, Multnomah County Commissioners announced Monday they will keep issuing licenses to same-sex couples. Meanwhile, Benton became the sec ond Oregon county to grant marriage li censes to same-sex couples, after the three commissioners surveyed approximately 50 people, most of whom said they believe ner Gary Hughes. “Thank you Portland,” yelled Gary Jeroy ot Bloomfield, Mich., who was with his partner of 31 years, Tony Clemente. “W e’re legal. W e’re getting married. My knees are shaking,” Jeroy said. Portland is now the only major city in the U.S. that is issuing marriage licenses to gay couples. The Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court has ruled that gay marriages are constitutional, but they will not be al lowed before May 17 in that state. The California Supreme Court also has taken up the issue, but same-sex weddings in San Francisco have been halted for at least a tew months while a ruling is pending. A student walks past the construction of a new Technical Education Building in the center o f the PCC Cascade campus that borders North Killingsworth Street. The construction is part o f $57 million in campus project. Eventu ally five new buildings on the campus will expand student services, increase access to adult learning programs and add instruction in workforce development skills. College Expansion Takes Shape A firefighter training tower is built at the front o f a new Public Services Education building on the western edge of an expanded PCC Cascade campus in north Portland. The construction is a remodel o f the former Renaissance Market on North Killingsworth Street. photo C ourtesy B onnie T inker /L ove the licenses were a constitutional right. Benton County Commissioners ap proved issuing marriage licenses to same- sex couples. 2-1. “Multnomah County will continue to issue marriage licenses to all couples, consistent with the Oregon Constitution, until such time as the Supreme Court of Oregon or the citizens of Oregon dictate another course o f action," the county commissioners said in a written statement. Couples waiting outside a county of fice building toapply for marriage licenses cheered, kissed and embraced after learn ing the commission ’ s deci sion. Some came from as faraway as Hawaii to get married. “I’m so excited. I’m so happy,” said John Bergmann, who traveled to Portland from Sacramento, Calif., to marry his part- PCC Cascade campus grows south, west and center photos by M ark W ashington / T he P ortland O bserver Brickwork is added to the new Physical Education Building at PCC Cascade on the south side of North Killingsworth across from the main campus. The building is scheduled to open this summer. (Cije ^Iortlanh QDbseruer African A m ericans are now the second fastest-grow ing group online and the num ber o f top online destinations for A frican-A m ericans has grown. Each o f the follow ing sites rank in top 2 percent o f all web sites visited: Black News & Issues, BlackAmericaWeh.com, Africana.com, BlackNews.com, BlackEnterprises.com. Essence.com, FinalCall.com Leisure/Networking/Search Engines: BlackPlanet.com, OHHLA.com, HBCU- Central.com, EverythingBlack.com, BlackWehPortal.com. BlackWorld.com Hip H ip/ Entertainment News: BET.com, BlackVoices.com, SOHH.com, AIIHipHop.com, UrhanKind.com, EURweb.com, Vihe.com, TheSource.com Fjvorle» ■* ’ J Multnomah County Chairwoman Diane Linn announced March 3 that a legal re view by the county and an independent law firm had concluded that rejecting mar riage license applications from gays and lesbians violated the Oregon Constitu tion. An immediatechallenge was organized by the hastily formed Defense of Marriage Coalition led by Multnomah County Re publican Party Chairman Tim Nashif and represented by Kelly Clark, an attorney and former Republican state lawmaker. Clark called the decision Monday “aw fully foolish and awfully arrogant.” Myers, in the opinion he released last Friday, noted there was nothing in the Oregon Constitution to prevent gay mar riage. Online Destinations Grow 3 http A*www.poitlanctobwei ver .com ' Mew M akes a F amily Abbie Haywood (left) and Jamie Bolyard, the first same-sex couple to ex change vows in a legal marriage ceremony in Oregon, appear on the steps of the Multnomah County Building on March 3. Rev. Glenna Shepherd, pastor of the Metropolitan Community Church, performed the ceremony. 3 lode Microsoft Internet t i p lor et yW> 4Se«rch ^favori« ffMad. J J " J U C & http # w w w portlendobsor vor com On Web w w w .p o r t la n d o b s e r v e r .c o m Juna 19, 2002 index Top S to llo . Top Stories Adame High Await« Wracking Ball Metro The Portland School Distnct has proclaimed that there will be a new Whitaker Middle School to replace the empty and former Adams High School at 5700 N E. 39th Ave Of course the new building will look very different and will bnng new housing with it — something that makes nearby existing neighbors a little nervous. sports Focos Health As it quickly becomes more and more an electronic world, The Portland Observer endeavors to meet the Opinión Police/Vanrouver Reliqlon Observador General News needs o f our readers and advertisers by going online. Cnntact lis reach more people with banner ads call 503 288 0033 With the capability o f the Internet, the Portland Keeping a Close Eye On Crime Despite program cuts and budget shortfalls, returning Northeast Police Precinct Commander Bruce Prunk iß positive the Observer now reaches a broader audience, and thus community he calls home will continue to make stndes sets your business in front o f a new generation. •W Spraying Makes Progr.s* In Mosquito Fight Take a sigh of relief Multnomah County health officials are reporting success in the fight to nd your backyard of mosquitoes 03 w IjJrirtlatti) (l^bseruer From border to border, from coast to cosst here are some of the top stones making news across the United States and from around the world «T It's as easv as Call us at:
