OK, so what does the end of DOMA and Prop 8 mean for Oregon?

Kari Chisholm

After today's big Supreme Court decisions on DOMA and Prop 8 (see Oregon reaction roundup here), a big question a lot of folks are asking is: OK, so what does this mean for Oregon?

In 13 states, same-sex couples couples can now get married. And yes, some Oregonians will surely be (and certainly already have) traveled to those states to tie the knot.

But now that DOMA is dead, federal recognition is a bit of a mess. It seems that some federal benefits are based on where you got married, and others based on where you live. So the end of DOMA means that same-sex couples living in Oregon and married elsewhere get some of the benefits of marriage, but not all. So, yeah, it's a mess.

Which, as the Oregon United for Marriage campaign notes, just underscores how critical the campaign to repeal Measure 36 is. From their statement:

These decisions are monumental. But it also underscores the work to be done here in Oregon.

We must continue our campaign to make marriage legal for all couples in Oregon, regardless of gender. Until it is legal for same-sex couples to marry in Oregon, federal relationship recognition will likely remain complicated—leaving Oregon’s families in limbo. While the Court didn’t extend the freedom to marry in every state, we can win marriage equality in Oregon.

So, let's get to work. Sign up for Oregon United. Become a Facebook fan.

And start by showing up at today's rallies at 5 p.m. in Terry Schrunk Plaza in Portland and Wayne Morse Free Speech Plaza in Eugene.

By Kari Chisholm June 26, 2013