Basic Rights Oregon is deciding between two versions of a voter initiative to bring to the ballot that would legalize same-sex marriage in the state. The language on both reads:
Amends Constitution: Recognizes marriage between couples of same gender; protects clergy/religious institutions' refusal to perform marriages
Opponents of same-sex marriage challenged the language with the Attorney General's office, and lost, The Oregonian reports:
The attorney general's office on Friday announced its final wording on a ballot title — and it rejected the legal argument from an attorney for the Oregon Family Council that the title should reflect the notion that the initiative would require every governmental agency in Oregon to issue marriage licenses.
Basic Rights Oregon, the gay-rights group sponsoring the initiative, has rejected that argument as absurd. It says county clerks would continue to be the only ones issuing marriage licenses if this initiative is approved by voters.
Either side can appeal so there may be more legal challenges ahead, but this is where things stand at the moment.
