STATUS: Broad domestic partnership, anti-marriage constitutional amendment

TAKE ACTION: State advocacy groups are working toward fairness for all of Oregon's families by overturning a constitutional amendment that prohibits the freedom to marry for same-sex couples in the state. Basic Rights Oregon is currently leading the charge to collect enough signatures to place a ballot measure in favor of the freedom to marry before Oregon voters in November 2014. 

HISTORY: In March 2004, the Multnomah County in Oregon began issuing marriage licenses for same-sex couples, but after a months-long back-and-forth in the courts, these marriage licenses were declared invalid.

In November 2004, anti-gay forces in Oregon pushed through Ballot Measure 36, a constitutional amendment that excludes same-sex couples from marriage and prohibits same-sex couples from attaining any form of legal family status. 

On May 9, 2007, Oregon Governor Ted Kulongoski signed a broad domestic partnership bill after it was approved by the state legislature. The law - which provides some, but not all, of the protections that marriage affords - went into effect on February 1, 2008.

GROUPS ACTIVELY WORKING ON MARRIAGE: 

• Basic Rights Oregon is Oregon's central state organization committed to ending discrimination based on sexual orientation and gender identity.
• Freedom to Marry is the campaign to win marriage for same-sex couples nationwide.
• Human Rights Campaign is the United States' largest national lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender civil rights organization. 

POLLING DATA: A December 2012 poll found that 54 percent of people in Oregon would vote to approve the freedom to marry, while only 40 percent said they would oppose marriage for same-sex couples. Independents support marriage by a 64-33 margin, and voters younger than 45 support the freedom to marry by a margin of 68-30.  

NUMBER OF SAME-SEX COUPLES: According to The Williams Institute's analysis of the 2010 U.S. Census, 11,773 same-sex couples are living in Oregon, representing 7.8 same-sex couples per 1,000 households.