04/10/2007
Oregon Gay Rights Bill Hearings Draw Massive, Vocal Crowd
As the Oregon legislature began consideration of two gay rights bills — one that would allow for civil unions in the state and another that would ban discrimination based on sexual orientation — hordes of citizens turned out in Salem to testify for and against the bills.
According to the Statesman Journal, "House Bill 2007 would enable gay and lesbian couples to enter into marriage-style contracts that grant them benefits of married couples under Oregon state law. They could file joint state tax returns, have joint health insurance plans or take sick leave to care for their partners, among hundreds of new benefits. They would not gain benefits granted to married couples under federal law, such as Social Security benefits and the ability to file federal taxes jointly. Couples could lose their benefits if they leave Oregon. Senate Bill 2, which passed the Senate 21-7 on March 21, would bar discrimination against gays, lesbians, bisexuals and transgendered people. They couldn't be evicted from apartments, denied seats in restaurants or fired from jobs because of their sexual orientation."
The Journal also reported a turnout of more than 700: "People jammed six hearing rooms and huddled around three television sets in an overflow area. Nearby, a group of 25 Christians stood in a semicircle and prayed aloud in Russian."
Oregon's only gay lawmaker, Rep. Tina Kotek, D-Corvallis, came with her partner. Said Kotek: "We are strangers in the eyes of the Oregon law. Tina and I are family. We may not look exactly like your family, but we are family nevertheless."
The Statesman Journal noted a large opposition rally, led by state worker Anna Zaichenko. Said Zaichenko: "Behavior is not a civil right. Granting special rights or privileges to those engaging in immoral behavior elevates that behavior to acceptance."
In 2005, then House Speaker Karen Minnis, (R-Wood Village) would not allow the legislature to vote on a civil union bill, claiming it went against the will of the voters who passed an amendment banning same-sex marriage in 2004.
Oregon Live reports that the committee chairwoman received over 1,500 phone calls about the bills, and that Christian pastors, gays and lesbians, parents, business leaders, and legislators testified at last night's hearings, which were guarded by Oregon state police, and lasted late into the night.
Activists crowd Capitol to address gay rights [the olympian]
Hundreds attend gay-rights hearing [oregon live]
Gay-rights testimony inspires crowds [statesman journal]
(image: statesman journal)
Posted 8:59 AM EST by Andy Towle in Gay Marriage, Gay Rights, News, Oregon | Permalink
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Civil unions bridge the gap for same sex long-term couples.
Oregon should allow this.
Posted by: Stephen | Apr 10, 2007 9:38:13 AM
The 'behaviour' thing always get me. It's not like those christians, who actually chose to believe in what they believe and behave accordingly. Oh, and praying in RUSSIAN? Does it have a special meaning I'm missing? Wingnuts. Never cease to leave me amazed and annoyed.
Posted by: Xavier | Apr 10, 2007 9:40:30 AM
Oregon is liberal enough that when the fundies were arguing for the ban on same-sex marriage in 2004, they said that gay couples could get civil unions instead. Of course, that all is forgotten now on the cusp of that taking place.
Posted by: Oregon Student | Apr 10, 2007 10:32:09 AM
There is a an Old Believer community thousands-strong in Salem where the first language is Russian, Xavier.
I live in Portland - I don't understand why the gay press doesn't mobilize people here in the same way as christofascists are obviously mobilized. Oregon is liberal in the college cities of Portland, Eugene, Corvallis, Ashland only. The rest is hardcore reactionary territory.
Posted by: 35% Daffodil | Apr 10, 2007 11:23:50 AM
I'm so glad Stephen is always here to post his silly little spiel every time gay marriage comes up.
Posted by: daniel | Apr 10, 2007 1:23:32 PM
i'm not sure whose team that woman with the "minorities have unchangable charactaristics" placard is batting for, but someone needs to buy her a Merriam-Webster's quick.
Posted by: sean | Apr 10, 2007 1:44:26 PM
Oregon Student, ask any gay rights organization about how people vote. Marriage for gay people is at the top and is the issue that people cling onto because of the language around (religious language) marriage is acceptable. Gay rights organizations will tell you that when people are against marriage for gay people they are against everything down the line (hate crime laws, employment discrimination).
Posted by: Jack! | Apr 10, 2007 2:20:43 PM
I don't understand why media goes along with this generic "Christian". These people are Southern Baptists, Evangelists...etc. The Southern Baptists believe that they are the only true Christians and so they force the media to go along with allowing them to usurp that word which is very misleading. Methodists, Episcopaleans, Lutherans, Presbytarians...etc., etc. do not worship hate and intolerance. In fact, they have made great strides in reaching out and accepting gay people. Do the world a favor and tell the whole story when reporting. These people forcing you to go along with just referring to them as Christians, is right up there with calling a nuclear missile a "Peacekeeper".
Posted by: Todd Terrific | Apr 10, 2007 3:41:37 PM
The thing that I find most disturbing about this picture is the youthfulness of the mob. There are so many young adults holding the anti-gay signs.
Usually these anti-gay, torch and pitchfork rallies attract more blue haired grannies than a blue-light, buy one get one free, special on Preparation H at K-Mart.
I wouldn't expect to see so many young people waving signs at an anti-gay rally in Oregon.
Very disappointing indeed.
Posted by: Zeke | Apr 10, 2007 4:10:33 PM
There are many young people, because the Russian fundamentalist group Oregon Citizen's Alliance made an appearance:
http://www.wweek.com/editorial/3313/8513/
The Oregon House opted to call the civil unions, domestic partnerships, which is disappointing.
Posted by: Oregon Student | Apr 10, 2007 7:39:55 PM
for some, moral choices may not be school subjects, but spelling is. and then have pagans slipped down a remedial slope -- or simply jaded by the high real estate expenditures. oregon -- a rather beautiful state. yet, it's a shame about all of that tar. peace.
Posted by: ricardo | Apr 10, 2007 9:11:16 PM
Good points. The behavior argument is ridiculous - religion is a protected characteristic, and ain't that a behavior?Maybe in Oregon you're born into your religious orientation.
And Did You Know: Oregon has two gay Supreme Court Justices? And Oregon state regulations already protect gender identity?
See my blog on the Oregon bill at the Transgender Workplace Diversity blog at http://jweissdiary.blogspot.com
Posted by: Dr. Jillian T. Weiss | Apr 11, 2007 6:58:39 AM
"The Oregon House opted to call the civil unions, domestic partnerships, which is disappointing."
Oregon Student: why is this disappointing? It's a different name for the exact same thing, and the name change makes it more likely to hold up when it's challenged at the ballot. So why is getting and keeping the exact same rights disappointing to you?
Posted by: Huh? | Apr 14, 2007 2:35:17 PM