Oregon
senate OKs civil-unions bill

Same-sex couples would get most of the legal benefits of marriage under a civil union bill passed easily Friday by the Oregon senate. The measure was approved on a 19-10 vote after more than two hours of often-passionate debate, but it appears doomed in the Republican-run house. Chuck Deister, spokesman for house speaker Karen Minnis, said there are no plans to bring the bill to a vote in that chamber. Two GOP senators joined 17 Democrats in passing the bill, which would also outlaw discrimination based on sexual orientation in housing and employment. The measure has the support of Democratic governor Ted Kulongoski. After the senate vote, Kulongoski drew cheers and applause from dozens of gays and lesbians who traveled to the capitol to listen to Friday's senate debate. Kulongoski, at an appearance with senate sponsors of the bill, called on the crowd to lobby the house Republican leaders to allow a vote on the issue. "The house has to deliver this bill," Kulongoski said. "Let's go and tell the house, 'We want this bill before we go home."' Oregon voters in November passed a state constitutional amendment banning same-sex marriage. But senate majority leader Kate Brown, who is bisexual, said civil unions are "fundamentally and legally different from the institution of marriage." Foes of the bill disagreed, saying such unions are marriage by another name. Republican senator Jeff Kruse of Roseburg called the measure "another step down the road to Armageddon" and questioned whether pedophiles will want equal rights. "This is dangerous ground, colleagues," he said. "This is a blatant attempt to overturn the will of the voters." Vermont and Connecticut have passed civil union laws, while Massachusetts is the only state allowing same-sex marriage. Ben Westlund of Bend was one of the two Republican senators who voted for the bill. "We are on the front lines of the civil rights struggle of this generation," said Westlund. "One of the freedoms that should be afforded to all human beings is the freedom to form families." (AP)