Ore. lawmakers OK domestic partnerships

[deadparrot]

Source: Associated Press

SALEM, Ore. - A bill giving Oregon's gay and lesbian couples the benefits of marriage through domestic partnerships won final legislative approval Wednesday.

The Senate endorsed the measure 21-9, sending it to Gov. Ted Kulongoski. The governor is a gay-rights supporter who says he will sign that bill along with another one passed earlier to ban discrimination based on sexual orientation.

The domestic partnership bill would enable same-sex couples to enter into contractual relationships that grant them the same benefits that state law offers to married couples.

The measure won unanimous endorsement from the Senate's majority Democrats, with two Republicans joining them.

Read more: http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20070502/ap_on_re_us/oregon_gay_rights

[gipper66]

1. About time

Why in the progressive state of Oregon is this just happening now?

[anitar1]

9. Because more Dems won seats in November 06. n/t

[depakid]

11. Because the Dems over the past 10 years failed to nationalize elections

which led to Republican control of the Oregon legislature....

Fortunately, the tide seems to have turned back toward rationality due to the far right's dismal failure in the state and the Republican implosion on the national level.

[Jersey Ginny]

2. Good news

It is really good when the legislature does the right thing and is not forced by the legal system to make the change. Either way, though it is progress. Can't wait to visit Oregon now!

[EFerrari]

3. K&R

[Cant trust em]

4. Oh!regon

Oregon is a fantastic place. Too bad that the weather is dismal.

[melody]

5. I love Oregon and Washington more and more

The land, the people, and their minds and hearts.

[Straight Shooter]

6. Proud Oregonian here!

How about all the states joining in now. :thumbsup:

[gratuitous]

7. Excellent

I think what I liked best about this bill's passage was all the whining about how the Legislature was defying "the will of the people" as expressed in passing Measure 36 a couple of years ago, with the usual "marriage definition" nonsense. Back then, supporters of Measure 36 said their measure was strictly about "marriage," and that they took no position on domestic partnerships or civil unions. It was just about "marriage," they said.

Well, they were lying then, and their manufactured outrage now confirms it. And bummer day for the haters. Makes me soooo sad.

[Ferret Annica]

8. I hope Lon Mabon's head

spins until it pops off his fat carcass. (Former Oregon Citizen's Alliance head.)

I wonder if Scott Lively will now write a sequel to his loser book, "The Pink Triangle" whining about the state of affairs in Orygun.

[gratuitous]

10. Strange to relate

First, I think Scott Lively has moved to Washington to spread his particular brand of hatred. I saw his name in a Seattle news story posted here at DU a few weeks ago. As for Lon, the only time I ever hear his name anymore is at friendly gatherings and some of the older-timers (including yours truly) say "Thank you, Lon" when we survey a big crowd of supportive people. Other than that, I think Mr. Mabon has reduced himself to an irrelevancy anymore in Oregon politics.

[depakid]

12. Mabon became a characture

That's him there on the right....

[Ferret Annica]

14. Yes, I know what the creep looks like

Measure 9 came extremely close to passing - too close for many, with 638,527 votes in favor and 828,290 votes against. It was one of the scariest OCA ballot measures used to try to spread the disease of bigotry and to make homosexual hatred the ultimate wedge issue in Oregon.

When he finally passes on, I hope they give the corpse a wooden stake through the tiny heart there just to make sure he is dead. What a nightmare the OCA and it's minion of Nazis put us through.

[DesEtoiles]

13. F U Karen Minnis!!!!!!!!