Breaking: a setback in Oregon. (365gay.com)

An Oregon judge Friday upheld the state’s constitutional ban on same-sex marriage. Marion County Judge Joseph Guimond ruled that the ballot question put to voters last November did not contain separate issues. Oregon’s constitution requires that questions put to voters must not have multiple issues.

In arguments before the court in September (story) Basic Rights Oregon lawyer Mark Johnson told Guimond that the measure makes at least two and maybe four separate amendments to the state constitution that should have been voted on separately.

The Defense of Marriage Coalition, which led the effort to pass the amendment, called the lawsuit “frivolous”. It said that if the amendment is overturned it will appeal.

It is expected the case will work its way to the Oregon Supreme Court.