Tuesday, October 29, 2002
Same-sex registry in Ashland, Oregon still low after three years
A story released today by the Associated Press reports that Ashland, Oregon's same-sex registry is nearly three years old, but the list is still surprisingly short, said city officials.
Under Oregon law, same-sex couples can't marry, but some cities have registries that allow them to be legally bound, create living wills and grant each other power of attorney.
The rate of registration in Ashland is low compared to the number of same-sex couples documented in Jackson County. The 2000 Census counted 468 unmarried partners of the same sex in the region.
Leaders in the gay community say that's because many people don't want to share their living arrangements with the government.
The 39th couple, Darcy Hamilton and Annette Teeples, registered Oct. 10 and held a minister-sanctioned ceremony and reception on Sunday. Only four couples, including Hamilton and Teeples, have registered in 2002, said Vicki Christensen, a court clerk
