Causa Applauds Federal Ruling Declaring Oregon's Marriage Ban for Same Sex Couples Unconstitutional

May 20, 2014

Causa Applauds Federal Ruling Declaring Oregon's Marriage Ban for Same Sex Couples Unconstitutional

Salem, Ore. – Yesterday, a federal judge ruled that Oregon's state amendment banning marriage for same-sex couples is unconstitutional. The ban was put in place in 2004 by a Constitutional Amendment passed by voters.

For many years, Causa Oregon has supported equality for gay and lesbian couples. We recognize that gays and lesbians are an integral part of the Latino immigrant community. As an organization that advocates to keep families together through immigration reform, we view marriage as another tool to strengthen, provide security and keep immigrant families together.

 Causa Oregon applauds the ruling issued by U.S. District Judge Michael McShane making it now possible for same-sex couples to get married in Oregon.

 “We are ecstatic at the news that the U.S. District Court of Oregon has struck down the amendment that denied loving and committed same-sex couples from the freedom to marry, said Andrea Miller, Executive Director of Causa Oregon. “This is a great victory for equality and for same-sex couples and their families in Oregon. Yesterday, love truly won” Miller added,

“Marriage laws provide a safety net of legal and economic protections for married couples and their children. And, this is certainly the case for many bi-national same-sex couples, where one spouse is a U.S. Citizen and the other spouse is an immigrant. When the United States Supreme Court struck down the Defense of Marriage Act (DOMA), the right to petition for permanent residency allowed to straight bi-national couples, was extended to same-sex bi-national couples. This was a huge victory, now bi-national same-sex couples are treated equally under federal immigration law. Yesterday's ruling ensures that all committed couples have the freedom to marry in Oregon and gain equal access to the legal benefits that marriage provides.”

 The court's ruling went into effect immediately yesterday and already, hundreds of loving gay and lesbian couples around Oregon are sharing in the joys of the freedom to marry.

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Causa, Oregon's Statewide Immigrant Rights Organization is a member of the Oregon United for Marriage Coalition / Communities of Color United for Marriage and the largest Latina and Latino civil and human rights and advocacy organization in the Pacific Northwest. We work to defend and advance immigrant rights through coordination with local, state, and national coalitions and allies. For more information, visit www.causaoregon.org

Posted in: LGBT,LGBT Equality,marriage equality,Oregon