Chicklet
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- Apr 8, 2002
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Judge blocks law allowing civil unions
Posted by The Oregonian December 28, 2007 17:07PM
Categories: Top Stories
A federal judge Friday blocked Oregon's new domestic
partnership law for gays and lesbians from taking
effect next week, allowing opponents to continue their
efforts to try to get voters to overturn the law.
The surprise ruling comes four days before the law
would allow gay couples to gain most of the same legal
benefits of marriage. Couples across Oregon were
planning to show up at county offices Wednesday to
register as partners.
But U.S. District Judge Michael Mosman ruled that they
will have to wait. He set a Feb. 1 hearing to decide a
lawsuit challenging the state's methods for verifying
signatures on a November 2008 referendum.
Mosman said attorneys for opponents showed that the
rights of voters may have been violated if their
signatures were wrongly rejected. Setting the next
hearing in a month reduces the harm to people who
would be affected by the new law, he said.
Supporters of the new law were stunned at the judge's
decision.
"It's unfortunate that families are once again bearing
the brunt of this ongoing struggle," said Jeana
Frazzini, executive director of Basic Rights Oregon.
"This is a long term movement for equality in Oregon.
.... In this case, I still believe we will prevail."
In a survey on its Web site, Basic Rights Oregon
counted 526 couples who said they planned to register
for domestic partnerships. Multnomah County was
bracing for as many as 200 couples seeking domestic
partnerships on Wednesday.
The ruling does not affect another state law going
into effect next week that bans discrimination against
gay residents in work, housing and public places.
Opponents are a group that opposes gay rights and
fought against the law during the Legislature earlier
this year, calling it an attempt to thwart the 2004
statewide vote that rejected gay marriage.
--- Suzanne Pardington
Judge blocks law allowing civil unions
Posted by The Oregonian December 28, 2007 17:07PM
Categories: Top Stories
A federal judge Friday blocked Oregon's new domestic
partnership law for gays and lesbians from taking
effect next week, allowing opponents to continue their
efforts to try to get voters to overturn the law.
The surprise ruling comes four days before the law
would allow gay couples to gain most of the same legal
benefits of marriage. Couples across Oregon were
planning to show up at county offices Wednesday to
register as partners.
But U.S. District Judge Michael Mosman ruled that they
will have to wait. He set a Feb. 1 hearing to decide a
lawsuit challenging the state's methods for verifying
signatures on a November 2008 referendum.
Mosman said attorneys for opponents showed that the
rights of voters may have been violated if their
signatures were wrongly rejected. Setting the next
hearing in a month reduces the harm to people who
would be affected by the new law, he said.
Supporters of the new law were stunned at the judge's
decision.
"It's unfortunate that families are once again bearing
the brunt of this ongoing struggle," said Jeana
Frazzini, executive director of Basic Rights Oregon.
"This is a long term movement for equality in Oregon.
.... In this case, I still believe we will prevail."
In a survey on its Web site, Basic Rights Oregon
counted 526 couples who said they planned to register
for domestic partnerships. Multnomah County was
bracing for as many as 200 couples seeking domestic
partnerships on Wednesday.
The ruling does not affect another state law going
into effect next week that bans discrimination against
gay residents in work, housing and public places.
Opponents are a group that opposes gay rights and
fought against the law during the Legislature earlier
this year, calling it an attempt to thwart the 2004
statewide vote that rejected gay marriage.
--- Suzanne Pardington
