Oregon Civil Union Bill Unlikely to Pass House

July 5, 2005

SALEM, OR — An omnibus LGBT civil rights bill that includes civil unions and the inclusion of gays and lesbians in Oregon's nondiscrimination act is likely to receive a vote in the Senate this week.

The bill would create 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.

The bill also adds sexual orientation to a law that forbids discrimination in employment, housing and public accommodations based on race, color, religion and several other factors.

It has the support of Gov. Ted Kulongoski and is expected to pass the Democratically controlled Senate with little difficulty.

The Oregon Senate will be making a very important statement about prohibiting discrimination in this state and providing all of Oregon's families with stability and security, said Senate Majority Leader Kate Brown (D-Portland).

But, the bill's chances of getting through the House are considered slim to none.

Republicans control the House and Speaker Karen Minnis (R-Wood Village) said she has no intention of allowing it to come to vote.

Minnis said that the civil unions section of the bill violates the state's constitutional amendment banning same-sex marriage.

The GOP stonewalling of the legislation has the support of the Oregon Catholic Conference and other religious groups.

Even though the bill was amended to carefully differentiate between civil unions and marriage opponents say it amounts to the same thing.

Our argument is that they are amending every marriage statute, said Tim Nashif, political director for the Oregon Family Council.