With the political makeup in Washington’s statehouse in favor of same-sex marriage, the state had little trouble getting a gay-marriage bill passed. But in Oregon, lawmakers don’t have the same authority as Washington lawmakers, because in Oregon they are prohibited from pursuing such a change in the law.
The reason goes back eight years to 2004 when Multnomah County began marrying same-sex couples. In response, Oregonians voted to amend the state constitution, declaring Oregon would recognize only marriages between a man and a woman. Ever since then, the Oregon state Legislature has not been legally able to work on the issue.
For Oregon to follow Washington’s lead, the entire state has to vote to undo that constitutional amendment.
Click here for gay wedding resources in Oregon.
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A proposed amendment to the Wyoming Constitution that would have banned recognition of same-sex marriages performed in other states, expired Friday when it missed a procedural deadline set in the state House.
