An Oregon petition drive to put the issue of gay marriage before
voters next year surpassed its initial goal of 10,000 signatures in 3
days.
More than 1,000 volunteers manned booths in cities and town
throughout Oregon this weekend. Organizers hoped to collect the
first 10,000 valid signatures of the 116,284 needed to quality for
the 2014 ballot.
According to a
Human Rights Campaign (HRC) blog post, Oregon United for Marriage
surpassed its goal.
If successful, the referendum would reverse the state's 2004
voter-approved constitutional amendment limiting marriage to
heterosexual couples and Oregon would make history as the first state
to do so.
Oregon, which currently recognizes gay and lesbian couples with
domestic partnerships, is not the only state considering repeal.
Efforts are also underway in Michigan, Ohio, Arizona, Nevada and
Colorado. In all instances except Nevada, citizen initiatives are
being used to put the issue on the ballot.
Opponents have previously said that they will defend the
amendment.
“This isn't about restricting or trying to keep other people out
of it,” said Teresa Harke, spokeswoman for Protect Marriage Oregon,
which opposes marriage equality. “It's about respecting what
marriage is – a separate union that deserves its own name.”