Governor Kulongoski signs basic fairness legislation

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASEContacts:
Melissa ChernaikInterim Communications Director503.222.6151 (o)503.349.7440 (c) melissa@basicrights.org
Bryan BoydCommunications Coordinator(503) 222.6151 (office)(503) 528.6160 (mobile)bryan@basicrights.org
Oregon Governor Ted Kulongoski Signs Basic Fairness Legislation: House Bill 2007 and Senate Bill 2Kulongoski answers moral call to treat all Oregonians with fairness and dignity, to provide Oregon families with needed rights and responsibilities in times of crisis
(Salem, Oregon) This morning, in a public ceremony attended by well over 100 citizens and legislators, Governor Ted Kulongoski signed two bills into law ensuring that all Oregon families are treated with basic fairness and that all Oregonians can live and work free from the sting of discrimination, regardless of sexual orientation or gender.In a passionate speech at the signing ceremony, Basic Rights Oregon's Executive Director John Hummel told the crowd, "Our hope is simple. It is for the day when Oregon families will no longer be forced into uncertainty in times of crisis, and when no Oregonian will be fired from their job, denied housing or denied an education--simply because of who they are or who they love. Today marks a moment in time when Oregonians proudly made hope a reality, and created a fairer, more equal Oregon."House Bill 2007, the Oregon Family Fairness Act, creates legal recognition for same-sex couples and their families through Domestic Partnerships. These Domestic Partnerships provide some, but not all, of the protections, rights, and responsibilities afforded to straight couples through marriage contract. It is different from marriage in several important ways, including the lack of portability to other states and lack of more than 1100 federal rights like Social Security survivor benefits."This pro-family bill will bolster family security, by providing critical protections in times of crisis," said Hummel. "It is a tremendous step toward equality."Senate Bill 2 outlaws discrimination based on sexual orientation in areas such as employment, housing, public accommodation, public education and public services. Religious employers, organizations and institutions are exempt."After 34 years of working to end discrimination, this law was long overdue." commented Hummel. "The Oregon Equality Act creates uniform law across Oregon so that protection from discrimination doesn't depend on one's zip code and the rules for employers, landlords and business owners are clear and consistent."The passage of these bills carries national implications as well. According to an analysis released today by the National Gay and Lesbian Task Force, recent passage of anti-discrimination legislation in four new states, including Oregon, has resulted in "the percentage of the U.S. population living in a jurisdiction protecting lesbian, gay and bisexual people from discrimination [to] rise to 52 percent, crossing the halfway mark for the first time."The study also noted that "Five years ago (in 2002) just one state, Vermont with 0.2 percent of the [U.S.] population, offered broad protections to same-sex couples. When the bills passed this session take effect, seven states (California, Connecticut, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, New Jersey, Oregon and Vermont), with 20 percent of the population, will offer broad protections to same-sex couples."Responded Hummel to the Task Force study, "Once again Oregon is a national leader in providing basic fairness to all its families. Today is a proud day to be an Oregonian."
###About Basic Rights OregonBasic Rights Oregon is a nonprofit, nonpartisan, statewide advocacy organization whose mission is to end discrimination based on sexual orientation and gender identity in Oregon. For more information, please visit our website at www.basicrights.org.
bryan@basicrights.org • Basic Rights OregonComment at the link below.