And Oregon. Prophetic words from the decision

...and a district judge has found that Oregon's marriage ban, which was undefended, is unconstitutional.  It's a beautiful opinion.  

My decision will not be the final word on this subject, but on this issue of marriage I am stuck more by our similarities than our differences. I believe that if we can look for a moment past gender and sexuality, we can see in thee plaintiffs nothing more or less than our own families. Families who we would expect our Constitution to protect, if not exalt in equal measure. With discernment, we see not shadows lurking in closets or the stereotypes of what was once believed; rather we see families committed to the common purpose of love, devotion, and service to the greater community.

Where will all this lead? I know that many suggest we are going down a slippery slope that will have no moral boundaries. To those who truly harbor such fears, I can only say this: let us look less to the sky to see what might fall; rather, let us look to each other…..and rise. 

60 years: a love story (Why it Matters)

From Oregon Public Broadcasting:

This is the story of an Oregon couple. They married in Washington after more than 60 years together but were racing against the clock.
....
But one couple that made the rainy trek is trying to meet a different kind of deadline. 

Eric Marcoux and Eugene Woodworth have been together since they the day they met in Chicago in 1953. 

“I am here today to be legally married to Eugene Woodworth, with whom I have had an intimate deeply committed relationship for a little over sixty years,” Marcoux says.
Marcoux is 83 years old and Woodworth is 85. 

They can’t marry in Oregon, where a constitutional amendment outlaws same-sex marriage. When same-sex marriage was legalized in Washington last year, they didn’t rush across the state line to get married. 

“No, no, no….” says Woodworth.

“We wanted to have it in Oregon,” Marcoux explains. 

But Woodworth has been diagnosed with congestive heart failure, and he’s been given weeks to live. They’re getting married today with the hope that Marcoux might be eligible to receive social security benefits as the surviving spouse.
....
The couple say today’s ceremony is merely a formality. But Woodworth chokes up as his partner slips the ring on his finger. 

“And now by the power vested in me by the state of Washington, I declare you to be legally married. And you may kiss,” the judge finishes the ceremony. 

“We met sixty years ago and this is the first legal thing. It’s such a pity we had to wait that long, ” Woodworth tells the judge. 

After the ceremony ends, the two make their way out to their car for the 20-minute drive home to Oregon.

“We made it. Wonderful we made it,” Marcoux says closing the door.

Will Oregon be next?

Effective immediately, the state of Oregon will recognize marriages of same-sex couples from marriage equality states.

The Oregon Department of Justice issued the ruling last week, noting Oregon has historically recognized marriages from other states and countries that would not have been legal to enter into in the state of Oregon. The ruling says same-sex marriages should be no different. ...

Although Oregon passed “Measure 36″, a constitutional ban on same-sex marriage, in 2004, opponents from Oregon United For Marriage hope to overturn it with a ballot measure next year. They have earmarked $12 million toward that effort.
...
Oregon United for Marriage is looking for volunteers to help collect signatures to get a repeal of Oregon’s “Measure 36″ on the ballot in 2014. If you can help, you can sign up here.

(source)