US: Oregon same-sex marriage activists abandon planned ballot after court victory
Pro-gay activists in Oregon have ended a campaign for a state ballot on same-sex marriage early, after a judge overturned the constitutional marriage ban.
Oregon United for Marriage today announced that they would abandon their push for a ballot, and that they are confident the ruling is “secure” and would not be overturned.
In cases in Utah, Michigan, and Arkansas, same-sex marriage bans were put back into place by higher courts after marriages had already begun, as the state planned to appeal.
However, Oregon’s Attorney General Ellen Rosenblum had sided with the plaintiffs and argued for the ban to be struck down, and so an appeal to overturn the ruling is unlikely.
Amy Ruiz, deputy campaign manager for Oregon United for Marriage, said: “We are confident that the freedom to marry is secure in Oregon and that we do not need to move forward with the ballot measure.
“It is time to celebrate this victory for Oregon.”
The campaign will disband and return all of its remaining funds to donors, proportional to what they gave.
Following the judgement, Oregon became the eighteenth state to recognise same-sex marriage.
