Oregon Anti-LGBT Ballot Measures Unlikely To be Reinstated

Queerty has the goods on the oral argument that didn't go so well for the heterosexual supremacists who are trying to revive their anti-LGBT ballot measures for a vote on the November 2008 election in Oregon.

Domestic partnership opponents gathered signatures for a referendum that would delay the law from going into effect and put it up for a public vote. Elections officials said opponents came up about 100 short of the required 55,000 signatures, but the group complained that valid signatures had been rejected and filed a federal lawsuit.

U.S. District Judge Michael W. Mosman initially delayed the law from going into effect, but on Feb. 1 rejected the lawsuit.

Since then, 2,114 gay and lesbian couples have registered as domestic partners statewide.

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The 9th Circuit judges didn't indicate when they will rule but will have to do so quickly if they want to reverse Mosman and order the referendum onto the Nov. 4 ballot.

Don Hamilton, a spokesman for the secretary of state's office, said the state's deadline for certifying initiatives is Aug. 2. The deadline for telling county elections officials what is going on the November ballot is Sept. 4.

The article also quotes Stephen Reinhardt being skeptical that Oregon's initiative statute is unconstitutional and seems to indicate the other two federal judges Harry Pregerson and Ted Goodwin agree.