Domestic partnerships begin in Oregon

PORTLAND, Ore., Feb. 4 (UPI) -- Same-sex couples in Oregon celebrated Monday morning on the first day they could legally apply for domestic partnerships.

In Portland, people were lining up outside the Multnomah County Building as early as 4 a.m., The (Portland) Oregonian reported.

The lines were the result of a decision Friday by a federal judge who tossed out a challenge to Oregon's new civil-unions law. That suit sought to block the domestic partnership law passed by the Legislature and put the matter to a public vote.

The ruling put the new law into effect immediately, entitling same-sex couples to most of the duties and benefits that married residents receive.

The first step for couples was to fill out forms. From there they went into county licensing offices where they faced a five-minute procedure before leaving with a certificate.