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Volume XLIV
Number 21
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Wednesday • May 21, 2014
Established in 1970
Committed to Cultural Diversity
ommunttv
Rejoice!
Same-sex couples
take vows as
marriage ban lifted
by O livia
O livia
T he P ortland O bserver
Same-sex couples raced to pick up mar­
riage licenses and get married Monday after
a federal judge struck down Oregon's voter-
approved ban on gay marriage, saying it is
unconstitutional.
U.S. District Judge Michael McShane said
the 2004 ban unconstitutionally discrimi­
nates against same-sex couples and ordered
the state not to enforce it. State officials
earlier refused to defend the constitutional
ban in court.
Portland's Melody Ballroom hosted mar­
riage ceremonies throughout the day and
into the evening.
LaKeesha Dumas and her wife O ’Nesha
Cochran-Dumas were the first African-Ameri­
can same-sex couple to take their vows on
Monday. The newlyweds picked up their
marriage license at the Multnomah County
.
u
,,
photo by O livia O livia /T he P ortland O bserver
LaKeesha Dumas (left) and her wife O’Nesha Cochran-Dumas get married Monday before family and friends at the Melodv
building and then headed over to the Melody
^ ^ ° ° ^ ’ ^ own,own They w ere ,he first MricBn American Same-Sex coupte to marry attera tederat judge stnjckdm m 0^
Ballroom with their friends and family for a
Oregon s ban on gay marnage as unconstitutional.
y
traditional jumping-the-broom ceremony
“Family is what you make off it,” the
support them and work with them.
couple said, advising young LGBT people of
Rev. Chuck Currie, from the Center for
color to “be true to yourself.”
Peace and Spirituality at Pacific University in
Another gay marriage at the ballroom was
Forest Grove, said he was honored to marry
for Cindy Joseph and B.G. Goldberg. The
couples on this momentous day.
couple said they “waited 30 years for this
“When I grew up I remember some South­
day.”
ern Baptist churches didn’t ordain black
PDX Pedicab offered free rides to couples
ministers. I didn’t want to continue finding
going from the Multnomah building to the
reasons to discriminate against others. I
Melody Ballroom, accepting only tips for the
considered joining the United Methodist
fare.
Church, but also didn’t because at the time
“I ’ve been biking all day. I love this and
they did not ordain LGBT members,” Currie
feel honored to be doing this today,’ said Joe
said.
Ball, the PDX Pedicab driver.
Tye and Willy Elliott met in North Carolina
Khalil Edwards and other members of
two years ago. They said it was love at first
Portland Black Pride and Communities of
sight and they committed to each other last
Color United for Marriage welcomed the
year with a civil union in Portland. However,
couples as they entered the hall.
they plan to get married later this year and
Paw Lumley and Phillip Hillaire of the
appreciated the new freedom to do so.
Yakama and Lummi tribes were excited to
Four gay and lesbian couples brought the
recite their marriage vows before the press,
Oregon ban on same-sex marriages to federal
friends and community members. They at­
court in Eugene, arguing the state’s marriage
tempted to marry 10 years ago only to have
photo by O livia O livia /T he P ortland O bserver
laws unconstitutionally discriminate against
their marriage overturned the same year.
Khalil Edwards and Zach Mohammed of Portland Black Pride and Communities
them and exclude them from a fundamental
They advised lesbian, gay, bisexual and
of Color United for Marriage welcome supporters to the Melody Ballroom Monday
right to marriage.
transgender youth to reach out to the elder
which was reserved all day and night for same-sex weddings after a judge struck
gay and lesbian community for people to
down Oregon’s ban on gay marriages.
continued
on page 4