Multnomah County/Portland gay marriage confrontation

[stevedeshazer]

Live local TV in Portland is nuts right now. The Multnomah County commissioners (four of five) just finished a very hostile press conference.

Gay couples and their supporters are lined up all the way around the block waiting to get licenses. It's pouring rain. A bunch of Fred Phelps type assholes are harrassing people.

More as it comes.

[kayell]

1. The press were hostile?

All, most, a few whackos?

[stevedeshazer]

11. In the press comference, yes

Here is a news link, with video: http://kptv.com/Global/story.asp?S=1683894

[rucky]

2. Difference between PDX & SF

is there's a buffer zone around San Francisco

Around here, the wackos are in the next town - 5 minutes away.

[stevedeshazer]

3. yes

The commissioners (4 of 5 who supported) stood up and each made a statement in support, saying it was based on a legal opinion by the county attorney (she also made a statement).

Then the commissioners opened it up for questions, and ALL of them were hostile. Lars Larson (conservo-talk host) started shouting questions about not including Lonnie Roberts, the only conservative commissioner, who seems to have been cut out of the process.

[stevedeshazer]

4. The doors are open now

Lots of shouting, hugging, chanting, people surging through the line.

Local TV (CBS) interviewing right-wingers drowned out by cheering supporters.

[stevedeshazer]

5. First gay marriage license signed!

Couple of women come out of the building waving it to cheers.

[nofurylike]

8. YAY yay yay yay yay yay!!! n/t

[nofurylike]

6. thank you, Stevie D, for giving us this view!

my local news ain't gon let us hear this vital news.
grrrr....


peace!

[stevedeshazer]

7. Sign outside

repent perverts
trust jesus

[stevedeshazer]

9. Local coverage over for now

Funny, saw a couple of young punky women in line. A reporter on the ground asked them if they were here to get married. One said not yet, but this may be me in ten year or less. Then she said, paraphrasing here, "to support instead of like those assholes over there" (pointing to rednecks screaming about perversion). The reporter looked like she was about to faint and pulled back.

[nofurylike]

10. thank you so much for this, Stevie D! n/t

[eeyore]

12. For those with cable, it's still being covered on Northwest News Channel

They said they plan on sticking with it. This is going to get crazy here. Anyone who went through the fundie attempts to make any mention of homosexuality in schools a crime knows what we are in for. We're in for a wild, wild ride. Hopefully it will remain peaceful, but there are plenty of wackos here who will see this as a threat to their belief system.

I'm proud to live in Portland - this is fantastic!

[bobbieinok]

13. I've met some really far right people from OR, worse than some in OK

really suprised me

[stevedeshazer]

15. We've got both

Oregon is a haven for the far right AND the far left. Almost every issue is closely divided here.

[eeyore]

14. I just watched the first marriage live

Between Mary and Becky. They were both so incredibly happy to be there. They had waited all night long to be first in line. There was a baby crying during most of it, then during the ring exchange Mary walked over and picked up the baby - it was their child. She held the baby whle they exchange rings as a family. I've been to a lot of weddings over the past few years, and this by far was the most heartfelt and emotional ceremony I've ever seen. These people wanted so badly to do this as a family, and they finally could. I had chills the whole time.

Now they just married two men who were holding their three children during the ceremony.

History in the making - a lot of very happy people today. I feel like I'm watching Rosa Parks in action!

[grasswire]

16. I just got a call.....

....from someone I know who is a minister at the First Unitarian Church in Portland. They are doing marriages -- four of them today, I think, and more on Friday. Several Unitarian ministers are going to the courthouse to stand in solidarity with the people getting licenses, and I believe the ministers will be holding a press conference at noon.

Dissent! Dissent! Dissent!