Although marriage is be defined as the relationship between one man and one woman in Oregon’s state constitution, same-sex couples are one step closer to being granted many of the same benefits and protections as legally recognized married couples.
The Oregon Family Fairness Act (HB 2007) and the Oregon Equality Act (SB 2) are advancing the rights and responsibilities of the lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and queer, or LGBTQ, community. Both bills passed the Rules Committee floor on Tuesday. HB 2007 passed by a bipartisan vote of 5-2 and SB 2 passed with a vote of 5-1.
“SB 2 will provide members of the LGBTQ community to feel comfortable when they are applying for housing or out at a restaurant or any other place where overt discrimination is taking place,” said Student Senator Oscar Guerra.
SB 2 would prohibit discrimination against people based on sexual orientation and gender identity. The opportunity to obtain employment or housing, or to use and enjoy places of public accommodation without discrimination is declared one’s civil right, according to the bill. Sexual orientation is defined as an individual’s “actual or perceived” gender identity.
“We want to ensure that legislature know that students care about this issue and they deserve to feel safe in their classes, and they do have some rights,” said Tamara Hendersen, an organizer for the Oregon Student Association.
The Oregon Student Equal Rights Alliance is conducting a rally at the state capitol in Salem today from 11:30 a.m. until 12:30 p.m. to help promote the passing of the bill.
According to OSA’s Web site, www.orstudents.org, “What makes this incredibly crucial for students is that if the opposition is not able to shut the bill down completely, they will begin to dismantle it with public and higher education as their first target.
“They’ve pledged to delete every single reference to education, thus youth and students would have zero protections.”
One opponent of the bill, the Oregon Family Council, says it are “mainly focused on preventing harmful legislation from becoming Oregon law.” Its Web site, www.defenseofmarriagecoalition.org, said its reasoning in opposing SB 2 includes insufficient religious exemption, no evidence of broad discrimination, and the requirement of Oregon schools to teach on the subject of gay and lesbian sexuality, among others.
Bryan Boyd, communications coordinator for Basic Rights Oregon, said opponents of SB 2 have been contradictory in their statements about civil unions for the gay and lesbian community, which “purely shows they are anti-gay and anti-basic fairness for all Oregonians.”
HB 2007 would grant same-sex couples benefits similar to those offered to married couples, such as joint health care. At least one of the individuals must be an Oregon resident and the recognition of a domestic partnership is not enforceable in other states.
According to the bill, “many gay and lesbian Oregonians have formed lasting, committed, caring and faithful relationships with individuals of the same sex, despite long-standing social and economic discrimination. Many of the rights, benefits and responsibilities that the families of married couples take for granted cannot be obtained in any way other than through state recognition of committed same-sex partnerships.”
Both bills are headed for the House floor, with a vote likely to take place sometime in the middle of the week. Last month Gov. Ted Kulongoski publicly stated his approval of the legislation and, if either bill makes it through for him to sign, the chances of it being approved appear to be very high.
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