Gay marriage rites start today in Portland
RUKMINI CALLIMACHI THE ASSOCIATED PRESS
PORTLAND -- Multnomah County, Oregon's most populous county, will issue marriage licenses to gay couples today, joining San Francisco in sanctioning same-sex marriages.
Multnomah County Chair Diane Linn has directed the county to issue the licenses, after consulting with the county attorney -- but without an official vote from the four other county commissioners. "She did it without a vote, but she doesn't need it. She has majority support," said Commissioner Serena Cruz.


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Legislator proposes state constitution ban on gay marriage
By The Associated Press
BATON ROUGE (AP) -- As a national debate rages about whether to outlaw gay marriages in the U.S. Constitution, a Louisiana state representative is proposing a similar amendment to the state's constitution.State law has long held that people of the same sex cannot marry, and Louisiana does not recognize same-sex marriages contracted in other states.


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Joe Conason
The New York Observer
03.03.04
Gay marriage foes wedded to hypocrisy
Why interpret Bible liberally for most, but literally for gays?
Introducing logic into religious discussion is considered terribly impolite, but the uproar over gay marriage makes such rudeness unavoidable. Many conservatives -- particularly those affiliated with the religious right -- insist that the Bible prohibits tolerance of homosexuals and makes same-sex civil marriage an abomination. And some liberals, too, say they cannot endorse full equality for gays in marriage, because doing so would violate their faith.


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Spitzer Reviews Constitutionality Of Gay Marriage
March 3, 2004
ALBANY, N.Y.
-- While interest grows in marrying same-sex couples, mayors around the state are waiting for New York's attorney general to decide whether doing so is legal.