Story Published:
Feb 26, 2007 at 10:25 PM PDT
Story Updated:
Jun 19, 2007 at 11:37 AM PDT
SALEM, Ore. (AP) - Bills that would create civil unions and ban discrimination based on sexual orientation were formally introduced Monday in Salem, setting the stage for a broad discussion of gay rights at the state Capitol.
One of the bills would establish a Vermont-style civil unions system in Oregon, allowing same-sex couples some of the legal protections and rights given to opposite-sex married couples.
The bill includes a requirement that couples who enter into civil unions live in Oregon for a certain amount of time, and would allow a same-sex couple to enter a civil union via a contract, instead of needing a clergy member or judge to make it official.
The unions would also only be valid within Oregon, and couples would not receive any of the federal taxation benefits that are granted to married couples.
A similar, though not identical, bill passed the Oregon Senate in the 2005 session, but stalled in the Oregon House, then under Republican control. Democrats now control both chambers and the governor's office.
A separate bill would prohibit discrimination based on sexual orientation in housing, employment, public accommodation, education and public services statewide. Similar rules are already in place in a patchwork of cities and counties across the state.
Both of the bills are backed by Basic Rights Oregon, the state's largest gay rights group.
Groups likely to oppose the measures have said the anti-discrimination proposal should contain exemptions for religious groups, and warned that if legislators go too far, a ballot referral campaign could be in the works. In 2004, Oregonians voted to ban gay marriage.
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The bills are HB 2007 and SB2.
(Copyright 2007 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)
