Oregon panel weighs gay rights

A broad-based measure to outlaw antigay discrimination in jobs, housing, and other areas drew lopsided testimony in favor of it Thursday before the Oregon senate rules committee. But state senator Kate Brown, cochairwoman of the panel, said the bill may not advance because of a likely roadblock in the Republican-run house. Brown, a Portland Democrat who's bisexual, said the measure has a good chance of passing in the senate, however. The measure, which would prohibit discrimination based on sexual orientation in education, employment, housing, public accommodations, and public assistance, also forbids discrimination based on gender identity.