Pacific Views

Marriage news round-up.

Oregon

A Multnomah County judge has refused to issue an injunction stopping the county from issuing marriage licenses to same-sex couples. The Defense of Marriage Coalition had sued, claiming that the county violated Oregon's public meetings law by not holding public hearings before changing its policy on same-sex marriages. In his ruling, Judge Dale Koch said that he failed to see the 'clear and convincing' evidence that the Coalition would win its court case needed to justify an injunction. (AP)

More: Details of today's proceedings in Multnomah County court can be found in this post at Portland Communique.

Washington

As Natasha posted below, Seattle Mayor Greg Nickels has announced that the city will recognize same-sex marriages from other states when providing health and insurance benefits. The city council will also be debating an ordinance requiring city contractors to recognize married same-sex couples.

Also in Seattle, Northwest Women's Law Center and Lambda Legal are suing on behalf of six same-sex couples who were denied marriage licenses by King County. In the lawsuit, Lambda and the NWLC argue that Washington's law against same-sex marriages violates the state constitution’s guarantees of equality, liberty and privacy for all Washington citizens. (Seattle Times, Lambda Legal)

California

Local governments are trying to figure out how to respond to the marriages in San Francisco. In gay-friendly West Hollywood, the city government is looking into whether there are any benefits they can offer city workers who were married in SF that the city was not already providing. And in San Jose on Tuesday, the city council will decide whether to recognize the same-sex marriages of city employees who wed in SF, Oregon, or other places where these marriages are legal. (AP)

New Jersey

Two gay men were married at city hall in Asbury Park, in the state's first same-sex marriage.

"As a show of support to the city’s gay community and the gay community nationwide, the City of Asbury Park has determined that it will commence the issuance of licenses to same-sex couples and the solemnization of marriage between same-sex couples, immediately, as a matter of fundamental civil and constitutional rights," [city clerk Dawn] Tomek said in a written statement. [...]

"We’re proud that New Jersey is at the forefront of the marriage equality movement," said Steven Goldstein, New Jersey campaign manager for Lambda Legal, a gay activist organization.

Tomek said New Jersey is one of 12 states that have no statute expressly banning same-sex marriages and that nothing in state law defines marriage as the exclusive province of opposite-sex couples.

NJ governor James McGreevey has asked the state attorney general to determine whether Asbury Park officials are breaking the law. (AP)

Massachusetts

The president of the Massachusetts State Senate says there are enough votes to approve a compromise constitutional amendment on same-sex marriage. Under that compromise, marriage would be defined as a union of one man and one woman, but a civil union equivalent to marriage would be provided to same-sex couples. The two houses of the state legislature meet in joint session on Thursday to make another attempt at passing a marriage amendment. (AP)