City Club of Portland seeks larger discussion of marriage

With the recent decision by Multnomah County to offer marriage licenses to same-sex couples, the issue of protecting or extending the rights and responsibilities of marriage hits home harder than ever before. Governor Ted Kulongoski prefers civil unions, but Oregon Legislative Council Greg Chaimov has issued an opinion concurring with the county--and Oregons Attorney General Hardy Meyers will weigh in on the matter any day now. City Club of Portland, however, wishes to step beyond the polarized rhetoric, the procedural politics, and the civil and sacred processes in order to look at the bigger picture of marriage and just what it means for two people to be united in the eyes of the government--and the public.

Portland, OR (PRWEB) March 14, 2004 --With the recent decision by Multnomah County to offer marriage licenses to same-sex couples, the issue of protecting or extending the rights and responsibilities of marriage hits home harder than ever before. Governor Ted Kulongoski prefers civil unions, but Oregon Legislative Council Greg Chaimov has issued an opinion concurring with the county--and Oregons Attorney General Hardy Meyers will weigh in on the matter any day now.

City Club of Portland, however, wishes to step beyond the polarized rhetoric, the procedural politics, and the civil and sacred processes in order to look at the bigger picture of marriage and just what it means for two people to be united in the eyes of the government--and the public. On Wednesday, March 17, a special evening forum titled Marriage: State of the Union" will offer a timely, moderated discussion of contemporary marriage with panelists:

• Leslie J. Harris, Professor of family law at the University of Oregon School of Law

• Stephen Kanter, Professor of constitutional law at Lewis & Clark Law School

• Mary Pitman Kitch, Associate Editor, The Oregonian

• Senior Rabbi, Emanuel Rose, D.H.L., D.D., Congregation Beth Israel in Portland

• Dr. Rebecca L. Warner, Professor and Chair of Oregon State University Department of Sociology

Dr. William Lunch, Professor and Chair of the Political Science Dept. at Oregon State University, and Oregon Public Broadcasting Political Analyst, will moderate the discussion, which will be followed by a question-and-answer session.

The program, which is open to the public, will be held from 5:30 to 7:00 PM. NOTE NEW VENUE: This forum has been moved to the theatre at 2 World Trade Center (25 SW Salmon St.). Admission is $5 (free for City Club members). No advance registration is necessary.

This program also will be transmitted on Portland Community Media's CityNet 30 and Oregon Public Affairs Network. For broadcast schedule, visit www.pcmtv.org or www.opan.org. Audio CDs and videotapes also will be available for purchase from City Club by calling (503) 228-7231 or writing to tim@pdxcityclub.org.

ABOUT CITY CLUB OF PORTLAND

City Club of Portland is a nonprofit, nonpartisan education and research-based civic organization dedicated to community service, public affairs and leadership development. Through weekly Friday Forums, citizen-based research reports, special programs and issue committees, City Club examines issues of importance to the Portland metropolitan region, the state and society as a whole. Membership is open to everyone.

For more information about City Club of Portland, please visit www.pdxcityclub.org or call (503) 228-7231.

###

Media Contact:
Tim Krause, Communications Coordinator
City Club of Portland
317 SW Alder St., Suite 1050
Portland, OR 97204
(503) 228-7231 voice
(503) 228-8840 fax
tim@pdxcityclub.org
www.pdxcityclub.org