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Gov. Kulongoski signs historic gay-rights legislation Wednesday
by Jason N. Reed | News Reporter |
Kulongoski signed House Bill 2007, the Oregon Family Fairness Act, in conjunction with Senate Bill 2, giving Oregon's same-sex couples more than 500 rights, responsibilities and protections that are also granted to married couples and legally recognizes the couples and their families through domestic partnerships.
In 2000, Vermont became the first state to legally recognize same-sex couples and over the past seven years, 10 other states have passed similar legislation. The legal recognition gives the same-sex partners similar rights and responsibilities as those granted to married couples. With Oregon joining the list of states legalizing these unions, one-fifth of the U.S. population will live in states offering these rights and protections to same-sex couples.
Four states have deemed these same-sex relationships civil unions: Vermont (2000), Connecticut (2005), New Jersey (2006) and New Hampshire (2007). Four states and the District of Columbia list them as domestic partnerships: California (2005), Maine (2004), Washington (2007) and Oregon (2007). Hawaii recognizes reciprocal beneficiaries and Massachusetts is the only state in the U.S. to recognize same-sex marriage.
"Whenever the radical right attack LGBTQ people, they create an opportunity for us to have a conversation with voters in every state," Zepatos said. "Once we engage in conversation with fair-minded people who really understand the facts, they don't want to discriminate."
These partnerships are not federally recognized, and are not the same as traditional marriages in that they are invalid in other states and lack more than 1,100 federal rights such as joint federal income tax returns and Social Security survivor benefits.
Oregon residents voted against legalizing marriages for same-sex couples in 2004 by passing Measure 36, which amended the Oregon constitution to limit marriage to the union between one man and one woman. The vote was the narrowest margin among the 13 states voting on anti-marriage measures that year - 57 percent to 43 percent.
"This pro-family bill will bolster family security, by providing critical protections in times of crisis," Hummel said in the press release. "It is a tremendous step toward equality."
Contact the city and state politics reporter at jreed@dailyemerald.com
In 2000, Vermont became the first state to legally recognize same-sex couples and over the past seven years, 10 other states have passed similar legislation. The legal recognition gives the same-sex partners similar rights and responsibilities as those granted to married couples. With Oregon joining the list of states legalizing these unions, one-fifth of the U.S. population will live in states offering these rights and protections to same-sex couples.
Four states have deemed these same-sex relationships civil unions: Vermont (2000), Connecticut (2005), New Jersey (2006) and New Hampshire (2007). Four states and the District of Columbia list them as domestic partnerships: California (2005), Maine (2004), Washington (2007) and Oregon (2007). Hawaii recognizes reciprocal beneficiaries and Massachusetts is the only state in the U.S. to recognize same-sex marriage.
"Whenever the radical right attack LGBTQ people, they create an opportunity for us to have a conversation with voters in every state," Zepatos said. "Once we engage in conversation with fair-minded people who really understand the facts, they don't want to discriminate."
These partnerships are not federally recognized, and are not the same as traditional marriages in that they are invalid in other states and lack more than 1,100 federal rights such as joint federal income tax returns and Social Security survivor benefits.
Oregon residents voted against legalizing marriages for same-sex couples in 2004 by passing Measure 36, which amended the Oregon constitution to limit marriage to the union between one man and one woman. The vote was the narrowest margin among the 13 states voting on anti-marriage measures that year - 57 percent to 43 percent.
"This pro-family bill will bolster family security, by providing critical protections in times of crisis," Hummel said in the press release. "It is a tremendous step toward equality."
Contact the city and state politics reporter at jreed@dailyemerald.com
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