Politics

Here Are Photos From Oregon's First Same-Sex Marriages

A federal judge has struck down Oregon’s gay marriage ban as unconstitutional, allowing state officials to start marrying couples immediately

By Lucy Westcott
This article is from the archive of our partner .

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 free pedicabs ride to mark this momentous day.

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.

Laurie Brown, right, and Julie Engbloom, left, await their marriage ceremony at Portland's Melody Ballroom on Monday. (Reuters / Steve Dipaola)

Julie Engbloom, left, and Laurie Brown, right, get married by Judge Beth A. Allen at Portland's Melody Ballroom on Monday. (AP / Steve Dykes)

Julia Fraser, left, and Jessica Rohrbacher wait outside of Portland's Multnomah County Recorder's building for the ruling in Oregon's Marriage Equality case so they can get marriage licenses. (AP / Steve Dykes)
Deana Geiger, left, and Janine Nelson, plaintiffs in Oregon's marriage equality case,  are interviewed in front of the Multnomah County Recorder's building in Portland. (AP / Steve Dykes)

Darcy Hyde, left, and Kristin Berkvist wait for marriage ceremonies at the Melody Ballroom in Portland, Oregon. (Reuters / Steve Dipaola)

This article is from the archive of our partner The Wire.