Oregon residents
will not vote on domestic partner rights for gay and
lesbian couples in this fall's election, Portland's The Oregonian reported Friday. The ninth U.S.
circuit court of appeals rejected a lawsuit
challenging the state's domestic-partnership laws, which
were enacted in February. Opponents attempted to place
a referendum on domestic partnerships on the ballot in
2007, but they were unable to collect enough
signatures. Out-of-state groups behind the effort filed
suit in federal court, claiming Oregon election officials
should have changed the rules to reconsider previously
rejected signatures, according to Basic Rights Oregon.
"The judges
clearly understood the issues at stake in this case when
they rejected the plaintiffs' demand for special
treatment," Basic Rights Oregon attorney Margaret
Olney told The Oregonian. "The out-of-state groups behind this
lawsuit failed to meet the minimum standards of public
support for their unpopular agenda last year. The
court is saying unequivocally: You can't change the
rules just because you don't like the outcome."
Marilyn Shannon,
a former Republican lawmaker who is heading the fight
against domestic partnerships, told The
Oregonian that the court's decision will only make the
opposition stronger.
"The courts are
not friendly to traditional values," she said.
More than 2,200
same-sex couples have registered their domestic
partnerships since the law took effect. Registered couples
have rights such as hospital visitation, making
medical decisions for their partners, and making
property and inheritance resolutions. (The Advocate)
