Yesterday, the anti-gay jerks at Restore America/Concerned Oregonians (in cahoots with the conservatives at the Alliance Defense Fund) landed a December 28 court date in their effort to put domestic partnerships to a public vote. They’ll be asking the judge for a temporary restraining order and preliminary injunction, to prevent DPs from starting on January 2.

Basic Rights Oregon isn’t a party to the lawsuit—the anti-gay activists sued the Secretary of State and county elections officials, alleging that signatures were unfairly tossed out—but they’ve retained counsel just in case, and are determining what sort of involvement they could have next Friday.

That said, spokesperson Karynn Fish says BRO thinks “it’s unlikely” that the “eleventh hour move” to block DPs will be successful. The plaintiffs have to show that they’ll be irreparably harmed if DPs move forward on January 2. Meanwhile, Fish says “it’s going to be made clear to them that there’s greater harm on the other side” if same-sex couples are further denied the basic rights that will come with domestic partnerships.

If you’re planning on heading to the Multnomah County Building on January 2 to get yourself partnered (please, please help me come up with a better verb for this!), head here for all the info. Locally, you’ll need $60 to file the paperwork, and there will be free notary services at the Multnomah County Building for the first week or two. Also, I’ve heard there will be celebratory pie (because cake evokes weddings, and these are not weddings), and the ever-lovable PFLAG moms and dads on hand to make everyone cry.