Last week Basic Rights Oregon reported that the Oregon Supreme Court issued their decision regarding two of the three IP ballot titles:
“In the decisions, the Court agreed with some of the issues raised in the briefs on Initiative Petitions 144 and 145 and returned both titles to the State Attorney General for revision. The Attorney General now has five business days to submit a modified ballot title, after which the petitions could, technically, be approved for circulation. But the process is effectively moot already, since the chief petitioners abandoned their campaign more than two weeks ago. The deadline for signature gathering for the November ballot is July 3.”
Next week, three-judge panel of the U.S. 9th Circuit Court of Appeals will hear oral arguments in Lemons v. Bradbury. As reported by Willamette Week:
“The court earlier this year fast-tracked the lawsuit, brought by those who would like to see our state deny domestic partnerships to same-sex couples.
If the federal appeals court ruled for the plaintiffs, that might mean Oregon’s domestic partnership law could be put into a deep freeze or put up to a statewide vote this November.
The court case, which should last an hour, will be heard Tuesday morning, July 8 at Pioneer Courthouse.”
So, there is much to be grateful for, and much to remain hopeful for. It seems at this point that the July 8th court date may be the last stumbling block in the way of Oregon Domestic Partnerships… until 2010:
“Former state Sen. Marylin Shannon, a Brooks Republican who was co-sponsor of the measure to repeal the domestic partnership law, said opponents aren’t going to give up and will work to place a repeal measure on the 2010 ballot.
‘There should be a vote of the people on this,’ Shannon said.”
And concerning the opposition’s worn out mantra of “the people should have a vote”? Read this article: “State has spoken on gay unions.”
As always, excellent coverage of “Repeal Watch” at Just Out Blog.
When May came and when November comes and the vast majority of equality-minded legislators are returned to Salem, joined by a whole bevy of new equality supportive fresh legislators (having replaced the closed-minded ones), the people will have spoken.
Perfect! That really is comforting to know Oregonian37. Thank you!
i hear there is a good chance for marriage equality in oregon
Hey queerunity! You know, I really liked your idea of someone from Oregon marrying in Calif. and then “suing” OR. for “marriage rights”… I wonder if BRO is on that??
SO… tell me… where did you “hear” this?? Dare I dream???