Reply #21: extreme right "uniting" again. [View All]

[dusty64]

Oregon's gay-marriage foes submit record signatures


I would used to have believed this would backfire, but I no longer have such faith in my fellow citizens. My gut instinct says this will only play to the hardcore and fascist rethug base, but who knows. Division and hatred and fear is ALL they have to offer and it appears to be working. As hard as it will be, if this passes I will need to seriously reconsider my citizenship in this Country. Thoughts?



Thursday, July 01, 2004 - Page updated at 12:00 A.M.

Oregon's gay-marriage foes submit record signatures

By BRAD CAIN
The Associated Press


DON RYAN / AP

SALEM, Ore. — The battle over gay marriage in Oregon shifted to the ballot yesterday, when opponents of same-sex marriages triumphantly turned in the highest number of signatures ever submitted for an initiative measure in the state's history.
The 244,587 signatures amassed by the Defense of Marriage Coalition — more than twice the necessary amount — are the latest salvo in the state's ongoing fight over the contentious social issue.

In March, commissioners in Multnomah County, Oregon's largest and most liberal enclave, directed county employees to issue marriage licenses to gay couples.

More than 3,000 marriage licenses were issued before a judge halted the process to give the state Legislature and the state's highest court a chance to weigh in on the issue.

Then, five weeks ago, backers of an anti-gay-marriage law — similar versions of which already exist in 39 states — launched their drive to place their proposed constitutional amendment on the November ballot.

http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/localnews/2001969...


http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_topic&forum=132&topic_id=561598