Fight Against Same-sex Marriage Quietly Progresses

While most states are still deciding on same-sex marriage amendment, fight against same-sex marriage is quietly progressing across the nation.

Last week, Multnomah county commissioners in Orgegon voted 4-1 to continue practice of same-sex marriage after holding a public forum and it has raised controversy because the county contrasts the state’s stance where same-sex marriage has been already considered as illegal. The commissioners started issuing licenses in March because they said it was unconstitutional to deny them to same-sex couples.

In California, the issue of whether San Francisco had the right to issue more than 4,100 same-sex "marriage" licenses has largely moved to the California Supreme Court but California Attorney General has asked the high court to stay three lower-court cases that are still active in San Francisco Superior Court.

In Massachusetts, Governor Mitt Romney is trying to stop issuing marriage licenses to gay couples on May 17, which is the day when state officials are able to issue marriage licenses to gay couples according to Nov. 18 decision by the Massachusetts Supreme Court. Although Massachusetts approved the state constitutional amendment to ban same-sex marriage but create civil unions, more time is needed to see the final result ?it can’t be voted on until November 2006 at the earliest.

Following is a recent update on same-sex marriage issue according to the Washington Times:

?Lawmakers in Utah and Georgia have passed constitutional amendments to uphold the traditional definition of marriage and reject out-of-state same-sex unions. Voters will go to the polls on these amendments in November.

?Wisconsin lawmakers passed a similar marriage amendment, but it must be approved by next year's legislature before it can go to voters, similar to the process in Massachusetts.

?State legislatures in Alabama, Missouri and Mississippi are among those still considering state marriage amendments, while lawmakers in Kansas, Kentucky, Indiana, Michigan, Minnesota and Wyoming have defeated such amendments.

?Traditional-values advocates are planning pro-marriage ballot initiatives this year in Arkansas, Montana and Oregon.





Vivian S. Park
Ecumenical Press