Oregon AG Says Gay Marriage Ban Invalid

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http://www.guardian.co.uk/worldlatest/story/0,1280,-3855889,00.html

SALEM, Ore. (AP) - Supporters of gay marriage are applauding an opinion by the attorney general that banning gay marriage probably violates Oregon's constitution.

``This is huge. It's clearly a victory for the civil rights movement in Oregon,'' said Senate Democratic Leader Kate Brown, who is an acknowledged bisexual.

But opponents of gay marriage also claimed victory Friday when Attorney General Hardy Myers noted that state law forbids counties from issuing marriage licenses to gay couples, as Multnomah County has been doing for about a week in Portland.

Kelly Clark, an attorney for the Defense of Marriage Coalition, which has asked county courts to block same-sex marriage, said his clients ``welcome the advice from the attorney general to local governments not to take matters into their own hands.''

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