Second Oregon County OKs Gay Marriage

PORTLAND, Ore. - Benton County will become the second county in Oregon to begin issuing marriage licenses to gay couples, County Commissioner Linda Modrell said Tuesday.

The county, home to Oregon State University, follows in the footsteps of Multnomah County, the state's most populous, which has issued over 2,200 licenses to gay couples since March 3.

Licenses will be available in Benton County starting on March 24, at 9 a.m., Modrell said.

The motion was passed by county commissioners by a 2-1 vote, with Modrell and Commissioner Annabelle Jaramillo voting in favor, and Commissioner Jay Dixon voting against it.

Modrell said the decision was partly based on a nonbinding opinion issued last week by Oregon Attorney General Hardy Myers, which said a ban on gay marriage probably violates Oregon's constitution, although existing state law also prohibits the practice. Gov. Ted Kulongoski, a Democrat, had urged other counties not to follow in Multnomah County's lead.

The issue, legal observers have said, is likely to wind up being decided by the state's highest court.

Brief history of same-sex (gay) marriages:
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1989: Denmark was the first country to grant civil partnership to gay couples.
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09/00: Dutch legalize same-sex marriages.
01/03: Belgium begins to grant marriage licenses to same-sex couples.
06/10/03: Ontario (Canada) begins to issue same-sex marriage licenses in the province.
07/08/03: British Columbia (Canada) begins to issue same-sex marriage licenses.
11/03: MA Supreme Court orders MA to issue same-sex marriages licenses from 05/17/04.
02/12/04: SF County, CA begins to issue same-sex marriage licenses.
02/20/04: Sandoval County, NM issues same-sex marriage licenses for one day.
02/20/04 (P.M): NM AG rules same-sex marriages are illegal under NM laws.
02/27/04: New Paltz, NY Mayor begins to perform same-sex marriage ceremonies.
03/03/04: NY AG rules same-sex marriages are illegal under NY laws.
03/03/04: Multnomah County (Portland), OR begins to issue same-sex marriage licenses.
03/05/04: NY Judge bars New Paltz Mayor from performing same-sex marriages for a month.
03/06/04: In New Paltz, NY same-sex marriage ceremonies continue under Unitarian ministers.
03/07/04: Seattle, WA Mayor to recognize gay marriages from other places.
03/08/04: Asbury Park, NJ Deputy Mayor issues marriage license to a gay couple.
03/09/04: NJ AG demands an halt to same-sex marriages or face criminal charges.
03/09/04: SJ, CA to recognize same-sex marriages performed elsewhere for it's city workers.
03/11/04: SF County,CA halts issuing same-sex marriage licenses per order of CA Supreme Court.
03/13/04: OR AG: Gay marriage ban probably violates OR Constitution, but counties shouldn't issue licenses.

03/17/04: Benton County, OR to begin issuing Same-Sex licenses as of 03/24/04.
Which country/state/county will be next?

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