Gay and lesbian couples in Oregon are
making plans to marry in the event a federal judge on Monday strikes
down the state's ban on gay marriage.
U.S. District Judge Michael McShane
announced Friday he intends to file his ruling on Monday at noon.
All parties present during an April 23
hearing, including the state, called on McShane to strike down
Oregon's 2004 voter-approved constitutional amendment limiting
marriage to heterosexual couples.
“We simply can't imagine a
rationalization for the ban,” a lawyer for the state told McShane.
In anticipation of the ruling, Oregon
United for Marriage has announced plans for wedding venues in
Portland and Eugene, where it will provide officiants, photographers
and flowers.
While Oregon has a three-day waiting
period, many counties will, for a fee, waive the requirement for a
“good cause.”
If McShane strikes down the ban on
Monday, Oregon will become the 18th state – plus the
District of Columbia – to allow gay couples to marry. An appeal in
the decision is not expected to be filed since no defendant in the
case supports the ban.
In the meantime, the National
Organization for Marriage (NOM) has appealed a ruling rejecting its
request to intervene in the case.
(Related: Federal
judge denies NOM's request to intervene in Oregon gay marriage case.)