Oregon’s attorney general, Ellen Rosenblum, has stated that she doesn’t believe that the state’s ban on gay marriage will be able to withstand a federal challenge.
Oregon’s attorney general, Ellen Rosenblum, has stated that she doesn’t believe that the state’s ban on gay marriage will be able to withstand a federal challenge.
Rosenblum joins attorneys general in at least five other US states—including Virginia—who are currently refusing to defend their states’ bans on same-sex marriage in court.
Oregon has been making headlines this year. In January, a year-long case involving a bakery that refused service to a lesbian couple was resolved—and it was determined that the bakery in question had indeed violated civil rights. The state is also facing two lawsuits that seek to have the ban on same-sex marriage overturned, citing it as unconstitutional.
“State Defendants will not defend the Oregon ban on same-sex marriage in this litigation,” Rosenblum stated. “Rather, they will take the position in their summary judgment briefing that the ban cannot withstand a federal constitutional challenge under any standard of review.”
What does this mean for Oregon? Rosenblum points out that the state is “legally obligated” to enforce the existing ban on same-sex marriage. “They will continue to do so unless and until this Court grants the relief sought by the plaintiffs,” she wrote.
Currently, Oregon recognizes couples who were married in a state where same-sex marriage is legal. It was just announced that Kentucky is doing the same.
Photo: EllenRosenblum.com
