Oregon Judge Puts Kibosh on Homosexual 'Marriage' Licenses
by Allie Martin and Rusty Pugh
April 21, 2004
(AgapePress) - An Oregon county has been ordered to stop issuing marriage license to homosexual couples. Multnomah County, which encompasses Portland, had been the only place in the U.S. for weeks where same-sex couples could obtain the licenses.
The order came from Multnomah County Circuit Judge Frank Bearden, who said he believes either civil unions or same-sex marriage would be allowed by the state constitution -- but would first require a ruling from the Oregon Supreme Court. Since March 3, the county has issued marriage licenses to about 3,000 same-sex couples.
Steve Crampton, chief counsel with the American Family Association Center for Law & Policy, says while the judge's ruling is encouraging, there are still concerns.
"The final outcome of this case is still up for grabs -- and frankly, it looks as if the dice are somewhat loaded, if you will," Crampton says. "And most legal observers expect the Oregon Supreme Court to do something similar to the Massachusetts Supreme Court and legitimize same-sex marriage in some form or other."
Jordan Lorence with the Alliance Defense Fund also alluded to the way Massachusetts is dealing with the issue of same-sex marriage, telling WorldNetDaily that his firm is pleased with Beard's ruling and appreciative of his "deference to the legislative branch, rather than imposing a judicial decision" upon the people of Oregon.
Last fall, the Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court ruled it was unconstitutional to deny homosexual couples the right to marry and ordered the state legislature to enact a law that complies with the ruling by May 17. The legislature there has since proposed an amendment that would limit marriage to a man and a woman, but also permit civil unions with the same privileges as heterosexual marriage. The governor of Massachusetts has asked the court to stay its ruling to allow time for a vote on the amendment.
Meanwhile, a one-of-a-kind event to promote traditional marriage is being held in a West Coast city not normally associated with Christian activism.
Sending a Seattle Message
Seattle, Washington, isn't known as a bastion of evangelical Christianity. So it comes as a bit of a surprise that a huge pro-family rally is being held there on Saturday, May 1. "Mayday for Marriage" is being held by a coalition of churches that have come together to support marriage as God intended it.
Randy Leskovar with Calvary Chapel in west Seattle says when it comes to marriage, they hope to send a very clear message -- primarily, that the majority of people in the area support marriage as the union of a man and a woman.
"[S]econdly, [we want] ... our politicians [to know] that we want marriage defined as that in our constitution and not changed in any way shape or form," he says. "Marriage is the bedrock of the family, which is the bedrock of our society [and] our country."
According to Leskovar, the May 1 rally may be a "landmark event, because this is the first event of its nature taking place in this country."
Leskovar says they hope the Seattle event will spread to all 50 states and that church groups will rally together to support God's institution of marriage.
