March 3, 2004
© 2004 WorldNetDaily.com
As the mayor of a New York town faces charges for conducting same-sex marriages, Oregon's law will be challenged today when licenses are issued to homosexual couples in Portland.
Hundreds of same-sex couples are expected to show up at the Multnomah County Clerk's office beginning at 10 a.m., according to KGW-TV in Portland.
Multnomah County Judge Linda Bergman told KGW last night she will schedule and perform marriage ceremonies for same-sex couples if they have a license when they make an appointment.
The county is working on a legal interpretation regarding the licenses.
Oregon's law says marriage is a civil contract entered between males who are at least 17 years old and females who are at least 17. Officials who plan to issue the licenses argue it does not say a marriage must be between a man and a woman, but opponents contend the law is clear.
Yesterday, Jason West, the 26-year-old mayor of New Paltz, N.Y., was ordered to appear in court today to answer for 19 violations of the state's domestic-relations law. Last Friday, West solemnized 25 same-sex marriages and put another 500 names on a waiting list.
He had planned to hold more ceremonies this weekend. But he now faces a possible fine of up to $500 along with up to a year in jail for breaking state law by solemnizing the weddings without a marriage license.
Monday, the mayor of Ithaca, N.Y., announced she would accept marriage license applications from homosexual couples. In New York City, a coalition of about 50 homosexual couples have said they will apply for licenses at the city clerk's office Thursday.
San Francisco, under Mayor Gavin Newsom's order, issued the first officially sanctioned marriage licenses to same-sex couples in American history Feb. 12. More than 3,400 ceremonies have been conducted since then. About a week later, New Mexico Attorney General Patricia Madrid intervened to stop a clerk in Bernalillo, N.M., who began issuing licenses to same-sex couples.
Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger has said he opposes Newsom's actions, but said on national television Monday night it would be "fine with me" if state law were changed to permit same-sex marriages.
New York's Health Department says same-sex marriages are illegal, but Ithaca Mayor Carolyn Peterson vows the city and its attorney will fight the decision if the applications are denied.
New York state Attorney General Eliot Spitzer last week refused a call by the governor to intervene in New Paltz and clarify the legal situation. Spitzer, a Democrat, has said, however, his office will soon offer a clarifying opinion on same-sex marriage and West's actions. New York Republican Gov. George Pataki said again yesterday the state's marriage law is clear that marriage "is between a man and a woman, and as public officials we should enforce that law."
The New York legislature is considering a ban on same-sex marriage, similar to legislation passed by at least 37 states.
In Georgia, the Democrat-controlled state House voted Monday to reconsider a proposed constitutional ban on gay marriage. The measure failed to pass Thursday by three votes.
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