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Your Guide To The Legal Battle Over Same Sex Marriage In Idaho
Amber and Rachael filed their lawsuit against Idaho in Nov. 2013. They were married Oct. 15, 2014.In November 2013, eight women -- four couples -- sued the state of Idaho over its 2006 voter-approved constitutional amendment that defines marriage as between one man and one woman.The plaintiffs, Susan Latta and Traci Ehlers, Lori Watsen and Sharene Watsen, Shelia Robertson and Andrea Altmayer, and Amber Beierle and Rachael Robertson, say Idaho's ban on same-sex marriage violates equal protection and due process guarantees.Two of the couples have been legally married in other states and two have tried to get Idaho marriage licenses and been denied.Their case went to U.S. Magistrate Judge Candy Dale in May 2014. On May 13, eight days after Dale heard the case, she struck down Idaho's same-sex marriage ban.Idaho Gov. C.L. "Butch" Otter and Attorney General Lawrence Wasden appealed that ruling in an effort to uphold Idaho's Constitution as approved by voters in 2006.On Oct. 7, 2014, the 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals upheld Dale's ruling, striking down Idaho's ban on same-sex marriage. After more than a week of legal challenges, same-sex marriages began Oct. 15, 2014 in Idaho.

Oregon's Same-Sex Marriage Campaign Finds Some GOP Support

NWNews | By Chris Lehman,
Chris Lehman
Published January 29, 2014 at 6:18 PM MST
A ballot initiative to legalize same-sex marriage could be on the Oregon ballot in 2014.
Chantal Andrea
A ballot initiative to legalize same-sex marriage could be on the Oregon ballot in 2014.

Some prominent Oregon Republicans announced Wednesday that they are throwing their support behind a campaign to legalize same-sex marriage in the state.

Oregon's constitution limits marriage to unions between one man and one woman, a restriction put there by voters a decade ago. As more and more states open up marriage to same-sex couples, Oregon voters could have a chance to remove that language at the ballot this fall.

Most prominent Democrats have endorsed the effort, including Governor John Kitzhaber. Republicans by and large have stayed on the sideline, until now.

A group led by political strategist Elaine Franklin is supporting the campaign. Franklin says legalizing same-sex marriage should appeal to Republicans who favor fewer government regulations.

"I mean these are strong Republican values, whether you are a conservative or a Republican of faith," she says. "Republicans believe in freedom and liberty."

The group includes Franklin’s husband, former U.S. Senator Bob Packwood. Also on board are two current GOP state lawmakers, as well as two former Republican statewide office holders.

Copyright 2021 Northwest News Network. To see more, visit Northwest News Network.

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Northwest News Network Gay MarriageSame Sex MarriageOregonPolicy
Chris Lehman
Chris Lehman graduated from Temple University with a journalism degree in 1997. He landed his first job less than a month later, producing arts stories for Red River Public Radio in Shreveport, Louisiana. Three years later he headed north to DeKalb, Illinois, where he worked as a reporter and announcer for NPR–affiliate WNIJ–FM. In 2006 he headed west to become the Salem Correspondent for the Northwest News Network.
See stories by Chris Lehman
Chris Lehman
Chris Lehman graduated from Temple University with a journalism degree in 1997. He landed his first job less than a month later, producing arts stories for Red River Public Radio in Shreveport, Louisiana. Three years later he headed north to DeKalb, Illinois, where he worked as a reporter and announcer for NPR–affiliate WNIJ–FM. In 2006 he headed west to become the Salem Correspondent for the Northwest News Network.

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