Oregon Senate Takes Historic Step Toward Equality (Civil Unions passed)

WASHINGTON - The Oregon Senate made history today by passing SB1000 - a bill that would grant critical rights and protections to same-sex couples and their children as well as ban discrimination against gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender people.

http://www.civilrights.org/issues/glbt/details.cfm?id=33230

(Note: this is a press release from civilrights.org - it has not hit the news wire as it just now passed - news link to be added soon as I find one:)

News Link: http://www.katu.com/stories/78299.html

SALEM, Ore. - Same-sex couples would get most of the legal benefits of marriage under a civil union bill easily passed Friday by the Oregon Senate.
The measure was approved on a 19-10 vote after more than two hours of often-passionate debate, but appears doomed in the Republican-run House.

Chuck Deister, spokesman for House Speaker Karen Minnis, said there are no plans to bring the bill to a vote

:yourock:

Glad my native-born spouse sneaked me over the border 37 years ago. I think I'm "legal" by now! ;)

perhaps there is hope for America.

they still passed the constitutional amendment banning gay marriage


and read the article--the Oregon House is probably going to defeat the bill

and sad.

pull up a chair and stay a while

I was surprised and encouraged by the fact that there were only ten votes in opposition to SB 1000--still ten too many, but more than I expected, given the reprehensible passage of our disgusting Measure 36, which many sane Oregonians are extremely embarrassed about, if anyone cares. Also, if anyone cares, 36 passed by 57%. Still far too high and totally unacceptable, but we're not Mississippi or anything (92% of its citizens voted to ban same-sex marriage). Also, my beloved Governer Kulongoski passionately supports this bill. These factors may persuade undecided and not totally bigoted conservatives in the House to do the right thing.

Our population recently okayed ballot measures which
* outlaw gay marriage
* make the state liable for zoning-related property value decreases retroactively
and turned down a progressive income tax increase which would have helped to fund the diminished state police crime labs, the dessicated Oregon Health Plan, and the overcrowded public schools.

Outside the urban centers, Oregon is very much like Mississippi. If we're "becoming America's most progressive state" I fear all the more for America's future.

bill first? Who had ___________ first? Oregon.

RV aka Rogue Valley

The once maverick state Republican Party in Oregon is unrecognizable from the days of Governor Tom McCall, and now resembles the usual band of ultra right-wing religious nitwits the rest of the country knows so well. The House won't follow suit on this bill, and the citizenry overwhelmingly banned gay marriage in last Fall's election. So, we've got a long, long way to go on many, many issues.

I still love this state, but it ain't all that progressive when it comes to social issues.

Tom McCall, Wayne Morris were tremendous level headed roll models for progressive politics. Men to be emulated and admired for their principles above politics. If Oregon is becoming a regressive state things are worse than thought for the fate of the US.

Oregon is running backwards fast-

The only reason it looks progressive today is because we came so far and there's more for the far right to tear down.

As to ciil unions- the House is run by a woman named Karen Minnis who empitomizes ignorance, intolerance, corruption, dishonesty and lack of integrity. A more dispicable human being would be difficult to find- although Oregon has managed it with several other members of its House delegation....

Kick

Republican Sen. Jeff Kruse of Roseburg called the bill "another step down the road to Armageddon" and questioned whether pedophiles will want equal rights.

"This is dangerous ground, colleagues" he said.



Is it wrong that I started laughing and making ghost noises and 'scary voodoo magic hands'?

I thought he was in the Salem area

If it is the same one, he is an idiot

Their own kids. He was especially critical of lesbians raising children, because he claims their denial of a male parent to these children makes the children hurt alone at night.

"Is it wrong that I started laughing and making ghost noises and 'scary voodoo magic hands'?"

Respectfully--yeah, kind of. It was very disturbing for me to sit in the chamber and listen to Kruse describe his prejudiced feelings with such fear and unhappiness, not caring if the many lesbian parents in the gallery, some of whom had brought their young children to the vote, heard his insane complaints loud and clear. If your response to that is laughter, well, you're entitled to your own reaction, of course, but I personally don't think that kind of bigotry and insensitivity are anything to be making light of.

Very emotional moment for all. As usual, I was most moved by members of Oregon's most conservative, most homophobic districts stepping up to support something conservatives in other states would never have the guts to endorse.

Mark my word! :sarcasm:

Way to go Oregon!!!
:yourock:

david

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It's a worthy stand, even if the House won't do its duty.