Opponents of a proposed gay marriage initiative in Oregon had a key legal challenge dismissed this week by the state Supreme Court.

The court refused to hear a

for a proposed measure for the 2014 ballot that asks voters to approve same-sex marriage in Oregon. The wording of the ballot title is important because that's what voters most prominently see when they fill out their ballot.

The court's decision clears the major hurdles in the way of allowing Basic Rights Oregon and the campaign organization it created -- Oregon United for Marriage -- to begin gathering the 116,284 signatures needed to qualify for the 2014 ballot.

Officials of the Oregon Family Council, which opposes the ballot measure, had challenged the ballot title. That's a standard technique used by opponents to slow down signature gathering.

In addition, opponents argued that the wording of the measure would actually r

and that this should be reflected in the ballot title. Supporters called that preposterous.

The Supreme Court never ruled on the merits of the ballot title. Instead, the court agreed with the attorney general that opponents failed to meet all of the timelines for filing an appeal.

This means that Basic Rights can proceed with this ballot title:

Supporters have

of the same measure, both of which have the same ballot title. They have yet to announce which one they will try to qualify for the ballot.

--Jeff Mapes