(Oregon) House passes anti-discrimination bill

[central scrutinizer]

Source: Portland Oregonian

SALEM - The House approved a second gay-rights bill Tuesday, voting for legislation that prohibits discrimination based on sexual orientation. Senate Bill 2, which the Senate passed on March 21, would bar discrimination with regard to employment, housing, public accomodations, public services, public education, adult foster homes or foster parenting.

The bill includes some exemptions for religous institutions, such as for employment if the institution has a bona fide religious belief about sexual orientation and the employment is directly related to institution operations, in a nonprofit activity, or closely connected to the institution's primary purpose.

The House approved Senate Bill 2 in a 35-25 vote, with four of the chamber's 29 Republicans joining all 31 Democrats in supporting the bill. That vote followed the House's approval of House Bill 2007, which provides domestic partnerships for same-sex couples. The debates and votes on the two bills filled the chamber's three and a half hour floor session. Since the House amended Senate Bill 2, the Senate will have to vote to concur with those changes. Gov. Ted Kulongoski said he is ready to sign both the anti-discrimination and domestic partnerships bills if the Senate approves them.

"As I said on the Capitol steps just over a month ago, I have my pen
ready, and I look forward to a swift Senate passage so we can truly make
Oregon a land of equal opportunity for all," he said in a statement Tuesday.

Read more: http://blog.oregonlive.com/politics/2007/04/house_approves_antidiscriminat.html