Oregon Marriage Equality Decision

evergreen_web_banner.png

KBOO is open to the public! To visit the station, contact your staff person or call 503-231-8032.


Produced by: 
KBOO
Program:: 
Air date: 
Mon, 05/19/2014 - 12:00am
OR Marriage Equality Decision
A federal judge threw out Oregon's same-sex marriage ban today, marking the 13th legal victory for gay marriage advocates since the U.S. Supreme Court last year overturned part of a federal ban.
State officials earlier refused to defend Oregon's voter-approved ban and said they wouldn't appeal.
The National Organization for Marriage sought to intervene, but both U.S. District Judge Michael McShane in Eugene and a federal appeals court rejected its attempts to argue in favor of the ban.
Many county clerks in the state began carrying out same-sex marriages almost immediately after Monday's ruling.
KBOO’s Rose Lyn Scott and Ken Jones were at the Multnomah County Building at 501 SE Hawthorne just before the decision was announced at noon. After the announcement, they talked to couples and officials at the Melody Ballroom, where officiants were available to conduct marriage ceremonies for those who had licenses.
 
Ken Jones and I talked with Amy Ruiz of Oregon United for Marriage, and then Mayor Charlie Hales.
 
We then talked with Portland City Commissioner Nick Fish, who also visited the Melody Ballroom to celebrate the decision.

Photo album of the event by KBOO volunteer Al Stern

Audio by Topic: