This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.
You can find the current article at its original source at http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-us-canada-27480181
The article has changed 2 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
Previous version
1
Next version
Version 0 | Version 1 |
---|---|
Oregon same-sex marriage ban struck down | Oregon same-sex marriage ban struck down |
(35 minutes later) | |
A US judge has struck down the US state of Oregon's ban on same-sex marriages, as couples queued up at the courthouses in anticipation of the ruling. | |
Judge Michael McShane said the 2004 voter-approved ban discriminated against gay and lesbian couples. | |
Lawyers for the state refused to defend the ban in court and will not appeal. | |
The ruling is the latest in a series of court cases overturning state bans on gay unions, following a ruling by the US Supreme Court in 2013. | The ruling is the latest in a series of court cases overturning state bans on gay unions, following a ruling by the US Supreme Court in 2013. |
Last week, more than 540 same-sex couples married in Arkansas before the state's Supreme Court suspended a lower judge's ruling that struck down the ban. | Last week, more than 540 same-sex couples married in Arkansas before the state's Supreme Court suspended a lower judge's ruling that struck down the ban. |
Including Oregon, 18 states and the District of Columbia have fully legalised same-sex marriages. | Including Oregon, 18 states and the District of Columbia have fully legalised same-sex marriages. |
'Fallen into place' | 'Fallen into place' |
In Oregon, state officials said they expected the first same-sex marriages to be solemnised soon after Judge McShane's ruling. | In Oregon, state officials said they expected the first same-sex marriages to be solemnised soon after Judge McShane's ruling. |
Same-sex couples formed a queue in the city of Portland even before the judgment. | Same-sex couples formed a queue in the city of Portland even before the judgment. |
Among those waiting were Laurie Brown and Julie Engbloom, a couple for 10 years. | Among those waiting were Laurie Brown and Julie Engbloom, a couple for 10 years. |
"We always knew we wanted to spend our whole life together," Ms Brown told the Associated Press news agency. "This opportunity has come, it feels right, everything has fallen into place." | "We always knew we wanted to spend our whole life together," Ms Brown told the Associated Press news agency. "This opportunity has come, it feels right, everything has fallen into place." |
The case was brought by four gay and lesbian couples in Oregon who argued the state's 2004 voter-approved ban unconstitutionally discriminated against them. | |
State Attorney General Ellen Rosenblum refused to defend the ban, saying there were no legal arguments to support it after the US Supreme Court struck down a federal law defining marriage as between one man and one woman in June. | State Attorney General Ellen Rosenblum refused to defend the ban, saying there were no legal arguments to support it after the US Supreme Court struck down a federal law defining marriage as between one man and one woman in June. |
And a US appeals court rejected a bid by an anti-gay marriage organisation, National Organization for Marriage, to be allowed to appeal the ruling in the lieu of the state. | And a US appeals court rejected a bid by an anti-gay marriage organisation, National Organization for Marriage, to be allowed to appeal the ruling in the lieu of the state. |
Since December 2013, federal judges in Utah, Oklahoma, Virginia, Michigan and Idaho have ruled similar bans in those states unconstitutional. | Since December 2013, federal judges in Utah, Oklahoma, Virginia, Michigan and Idaho have ruled similar bans in those states unconstitutional. |
But the rulings have been suspended until appeals can be heard by the higher, regional appeals courts. | But the rulings have been suspended until appeals can be heard by the higher, regional appeals courts. |
Judges also have ordered Kentucky, Ohio and Tennessee to recognise same-sex marriages from other states. | |
Arkansas's ban was overturned on 9 May by a judge in Pulaski County, the state's most populous. The state Supreme Court will now hear an appeal. | Arkansas's ban was overturned on 9 May by a judge in Pulaski County, the state's most populous. The state Supreme Court will now hear an appeal. |
Previous version
1
Next version