SECOND OREGON COUNTY TO MARRY GAYS: From the Associated Press

A second Oregon county has decided to issue marriage licenses to gay couples, a decision legal experts say will likely press the state's highest court to settle the issue soon.

Benton County follows in the steps of Multnomah County, the state's most populous, which has issued over 2,400 licenses to gay couples since March 3.

Benton County is home to Oregon State University and Corvallis, one of the state's most liberal cities about 80 miles south of Portland. It will start issuing licenses March 24, County Commissioner Linda Modrell said Tuesday after three hours of emotional public testimony.

Commissioners passed the measure 2-1 against the advice of County Attorney Vance Croney. ...

Legal observers say the decision by a second county to issue gay marriage licenses likely will press the state's highest court to settle the issue soon and put a stop to independent decisions made in Oregon's 36 counties. ...

San Francisco started issuing same-sex licenses about a month ago, but the California Supreme Court on Thursday ordered a halt. Officials in communities in New York and New Jersey were also ordered to stop.

That has made Portland the last resort for many couples.

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posted by Eve at 10:35 AM | link

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