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A federal judge struck down Oregon’s gay marriage ban as unconstitutional on Monday, allowing state officials to start marrying couples immediately. U.S. District Judge Michael McShane ordered Oregon not to enforce the ban as it, he wrote, violates the Fourteenth Amendment. The state ban was challenged by four gay and lesbian couples in the state. Couples have been lined up outside Portland’s county clerk’s office to retrieve their marriage licenses, and here are some of the first photos of the state’s first same-sex marriages, and the very Oregonian reaction to the news.
And it's signed! #gaymarriageor pic.twitter.com/a1SYLAp1wI
— Laura Gunderson (@LGunderson) May 19, 2014
#or4m #samesexmarriage #marriageequality #gaymarriageOR pic.twitter.com/kjXre0dAVO
— Editorial Staff (@TheSkannerNews) May 19, 2014
The legal team and plaintiffs who just won marriage equality in Oregon, holding a brand new marriage license. pic.twitter.com/esb8hSWJH2
— Sarah Mirk (@sarahmirk) May 19, 2014
Here's that photo of the first kiss again. #gaymarriageOR pic.twitter.com/tM68nJmXME
— Kelly House (@Kelly_M_House) May 19, 2014
Andy and Ken, together 25 years, now wed #gaymarriageor pic.twitter.com/pJYTnxGCtB
— Laura Gunderson (@LGunderson) May 19, 2014
And free pedicabs ride to mark this momentous day.
Pedicabbers are offering free rides to newlyweds outside the marriage license office. Yay Oregon marriage equality! pic.twitter.com/6Pndtlfchf
— Sarah Mirk (@sarahmirk) May 19, 2014
Plaintiff couple Paul & Ben, along w/ their son Jay, are on their way to apply for their marriage license now! #OR4M pic.twitter.com/1sa0fDMyLt
— Oregon United (@OR4Marriage) May 19, 2014
Nationwide support for same-sex marriage has been steadily increasing; 54 percent of American believe same-sex marriages should be recognized as legally valid, compared to 37 percent in 2005.
This article is from the archive of our partner The Wire.