Panel call for Civil Unions In Oregon

Governor's Panel Calls For Civil Unions In Oregon

by 365Gay.com Newscenter Staff
Posted: December 22, 2006 1:00 pm ET
(Washington) A task force appointed by Oregon Gov. Ted Kulongoski (D) is recommending the state allow same-sex couples to have civil unions and calls for the passage of legislation to ban discrimination based on sexual orientation.
The task force handed its report to Kulongoski on Thursday. It says that despite a law banning same-sex marriage gay and lesbian couples need "legal recognition" and recommends modeling a law similar to Vermont's civil union legislation.
But unlike the Vermont law the task force recommends limiting civil unions to Oregon residents.
The report was submitted to the governor shortly after New Jersey Gov. Jon A.. Corzine signed legislation creating civil unions in that state.
This is not the first time the issue of civil unions has come up in Oregon.
The Democratically controlled Senate last year approved a civil unions bill only to see it die in the Republican dominated House.
The GOP leadership first gutted the legislation (story) and then House Speaker Karen Minnis refused to allow it to come to a vote. (story) In an interview at the time, Minnis said Oregonians decided the issue in 2004 when they joined with voters in 10 other states in passing gay marriage bans.
The bill would have created a civil unions registry and grant same-sex couples many of the rights available to married couples including inheritance benefits, pensions, property rights when a partner dies, and the right to make medical decisions for a partner.
Civil unions have the support of Kulongoski. He had called for passage of the bill in the last session and Thursday reiterated a pledge to support the reintroduction of the legislation.
This time it will have a much better chance of passage. Democrats now control both houses in the legislature.
House Majority Leader-elect Dave Hunt said he believes the majority of Oregonians support civil unions and that the legislation will be passed.
Republicans and social conservative groups that fought for passage of the ban on gay marriage said they will look at any legislation that would grant civil unions but if it comes too close to marriage they may attempt a constitutional amendment to strengthen the gay marriage ban.
The gay marriage debate intensified in Oregon in early 2004, when Multnomah County began issuing marriage licenses to same-sex couples.
Some 3,000 same-sex couples were married in the county, which includes the city of Portland. Last year the state's highest court ruled that the marriages null and void but indicated that in light of the marriage amendment the legislature could provide civil unions. (story)
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