Free Republic

Multnomah County will begin granting marriage licenses to gay and lesbian couples on Wednesday, making it the first jurisdiction in Oregon to officially recognize that same-sex couples can marry. County officials have been discussing the move for more than a week and they made the decision based on a legal opinion. County offcials refused to release the opinion and County Attorney Agnes Sowle did not return repeated telephone calls for comment. But a number of county officials confirmed that the county will begin granting the icenses immediately. The county sheriff's office also was alerted to be on hand at the...