Posted on 03/03/2004 11:36:22 AM PST by kattracks
Look for this as the next step, which will then allow marriages of convenience to erupt amongst entire co-ops, designed to be medical insurance/government benefit combines, contractual relationships that will allow those without to 'marry in' to the benefits they wish to obtain. Add to that the fact that marrying an American citizen extends rights to persons from outside the country and you have a legal and social problem eclipsing any that American society has yet seen.
| What We Can Do To Help Defeat the "Gay" Agenda |
|
|
| Homosexual Agenda: Categorical Index of Links (Version 1.1) |
|
|
| The Stamp of Normality |
They were married in 1985 and lived together in San Francisco until he died of AIDS two years later. And guess what? No one told them they couldn't get married because they were gay or lesbian.
The law does not say that homosexuals can't get married. It only says they can't marry someone of the same gender. And guess what -- heterosexuals can't marry someone of the same gender either! No discrimination there!
Multnomah County will be in violation of the Oregon Constitution if same-sex marriages are not allowed, commissioners said Wednesday morning.
Basic Rights Oregon asked the county about one month ago for a legal opinion on the topic.
After receiving a second opinion, county attorney Agnes Sowle released a written legal opinion that it would be discrimination to deny marriage to same-sex couples.
"Refusal to issue marriage licenses to same sex couples violates Article 1, Section 20, of the Oregon Constitution ... Multnomah County is required to act in accordance with the Constitution," Sowle said.
"Equality of privileges and immunities of citizens. No law shall be passed granting to any citizen or class of citizens privileges, or immunities, which, upon the same terms, shall not equally belong to all citizens," the Oregon Constitution states.
"Same sex couples want their relationships to have the same legal weight as heterosexual relationships -- the right to inherit assets, own their homes jointly, and cover their families with health insurance," Commissioner Lisa Naito said in a written statement.
Some concerns were raised about commissioners skirting public meeting laws. However, Chairwoman Diane Linn said that those laws were followed "to the letter."
Oregon Attorney General Hardy Myers and Oregon Gov. Ted Kulongoski planned to meet to discuss the state's response.
" Four of the five county commissioners said at a news conference Wednesday they decided to allow gay marriage after a legal review indicated it would be unconstitutional to deny them. "We will not allow discrimination to continue when the Constitution of the state of Oregon grants privileges equally to all citizens," proclaimed commissioner Lisa Naito, at the news conference with other county officials. "Our actions today are required... It is my duty to support and embrace them." Agnes Sowle, the county attorney, said a review of state law led her to "conclude that the Oregon Constitution prohibits the county from discriminating" against same-sex couples for the purpose of marriage. Sowle said she also obtained a concurring opinion from an outside legal counsel hired by the county to review the law.
Both legal opinions were delivered to county commision chairwoman Diane Linn Tuesday afternoon, who directed county officials to begin issuing gay marriage licenses on Wednesday. At least two commisioners said they requested the legal opinion about a month ago after being approached by gay rights groups."
" Chairwoman Linn's decision came without an official vote from the four other county commissioners — but with the explicit support of all but one of the other elected officials.
"This is about a legal opinion," she told reporters. "I recognize that this is a complex and controversial issue that can split our community... but the county will comply with the constitution."
Naito said careful legal research showed the county must grant marriage licenses to same-sex couples or risk violating the Oregon Constitution.
"As a state legislator in 1991 I took an oath that directed me to uphold the Oregon Constitution. As a Multnomah County Commissioner, I again swore to uphold the Constitution of our State," Naito said Wednesday.
Naito said that granting the marriage licenses does not interfere with any religious group or church, but does ensure that couples have the same rights, no matter whether they are heterosexual or homosexual.
"Same sex couples want their relationships to have the same legal weight as heterosexual relationships the right to inherit assets, own their homes jointly, and cover their families with health insurance," Naito said.
Kevin Neely, spokesman for Oregon Attorney General Hardy Myers, told KGW that their office was in consultation with Gov. Ted Kulongoski and would probably react to Multnomah County's decision later Wednesday. Neely said the state had received no advance warning or consultation from county leaders.
Multnomah County officials brushed aside questions from a kgw.com reporter at Wednesday's news conference about why they failed to consult Myers before deciding that gay marriage was legal under state law."
Indeed he was. That's my commissioner, Lonnie Roberts. He represents the eastern part of Multnomah County.
He is the only man on the county commission.
He is also the only non-lunatic on the county commission.
He's a Democrat, but he is a regular guy.
BTW, the "independent attorney" they consulted just happens to be a nationally-prominent homosexual rights attorney.
Stay tuned.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.