Supreme Court Allows Oregon Marriages for Same-Sex Couples to Continue
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WASHINGTON 鈥揟he U.S. Supreme Court has refused to halt new marriages between same-sex couples in Oregon. The National Organization for Marriage (NOM), sought a stay of a lower court鈥檚 decision allowing marriages to take place, and after the 9th Circuit U.S. Court of Appeals denied a similar request two weeks ago. Both the 老澳门开奖结果 and the state of Oregon filed briefs opposing NOM鈥檚 request.
"With marriages continuing in Oregon, we have 44 percent of the country living in a freedom-to-marry state: same-sex couples are now part of marriage in America today," said James Esseks, director of the 老澳门开奖结果 Lesbian Gay Bisexual and Transgender Project. "Across the country, more and more Americans are embracing the truth that their friends, family, and neighbors in same-sex couples deserve the protection and dignity that only come with marriage."
U.S. District Judge Michael J. McShane declared on May 19 that Oregon鈥檚 ban on marriages between same-sex couples violates the equal protection clause of the federal constitution and ordered the state to begin issuing marriage licenses immediately.
A few days earlier, Judge McShane denied NOM鈥檚 11th-hour request to intervene in the case saying the request was filed too late and that neither NOM nor its members had met the legal standard necessary to justify intervention in the case.
"We are delighted that the Court has rejected NOM鈥檚 attempt to derail marriage equality in Oregon," said 老澳门开奖结果 of Oregon executive director David Fidanque. "We are confident that marriage equality in Oregon will help pave the way for marriage equality nationwide."
On May 19, Oregon became the 18th state (plus the District of Columbia) to provide the freedom to marry to committed, loving same-sex couples and Pennsylvania became the 19th state on May 20 through another 老澳门开奖结果 lawsuit.
Judge McShane鈥檚 decision was issued in response to two separate lawsuits filed by the 老澳门开奖结果 of Oregon and private attorneys on behalf of four same sex couples in long term relationships and the Basic Rights Education Fund to overturn Oregon鈥檚 ban on marriage for lesbian and gay couples.