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56 °F Forecast | Road Cams Thursday, April 14, 2005 Today's News | Classifieds | Autos | Homes | Jobs | Tempo | Health | Community | Home Delivery SECTIONS Home Page Local News Sports Business Obituaries Life Opinion Tempo AP News Weather Classified Archives Site Map SPECIAL SECTIONS Since We Asked Outdoor Journal Menu Guide How To Guide Health Readers' Choice Real Estate Showcase Real Estate Guide Joy Magazine Homelife Magazine Wedding Guide Passport to the Rogue Valley SHOP OUR VALLEY AutoFinder HomeFinder JobFinder Classified Place an ad TOP JOBS EXTRA Ashland News NIE Personals Movie Times TV Times E The People Volunteer Moving here? eSouthernOregon CUSTOMER SERVICE FAQ's Advertise with us Home Delivery Employment Contact Us Media Kit Oregon Road Conditions & Cams Email Story to a Friend April 14, 2005 Bates co-sponsors civil unions bill The measure, requested by Gov. Ted Kulongoski, outlaws discrimination based on sexual preference By DON JEPSEN for the Mail Tribune SALEM — A Jackson County legislator has signed on as co-sponsor of a bill requested by Gov. Ted Kulongoski to permit same-sex couples to enter into civil unions with all the rights of married heterosexuals. The measure, Senate Bill 1000, also outlaws discrimination based on sexual orientation. Sen. Alan Bates, D-Ashland, said the issue "reflects one of my core values and I was very straight up about it during my campaign." "This state has a responsibility to offer civil unions, whether to homosexual or straight couples," Bates said. "What matters is giving all people equal rights." Joining Bates as co-sponsors are Senate Majority Leader Kate Brown, D-Portland, and two Republican senators, Frank Morse of Albany and Ben Westlund of Tumalo. Advertisement Kulongoski announced the proposal Wednesday, one day before the Oregon Supreme Court is to rule on a lawsuit challenging whether same-sex couples are entitled to the legal benefits of marriage under the state’s equal protection clause. The lawsuit, filed in March 2003, initially asked for a ruling on same-sex marriages, such as those performed in Multnomah County. Then voters approved Measure 36 which put a constitutional ban on same-sex marriage. The court challenge was amended to address the civil union issue. (Also part of the suit is the question of whether some 3,000 marriage licenses issued by the Multnomah County commissioners are valid.) "As I stated in January, we face a great moral challenge to make sure opportunity is an open door through which every citizen can pass, not a revolving door which turns for some and doesn’t budge for others," Kulongoski, a Democrat, said in a statement. He said the measure "represents a united effort to help us reach social justice as we continue to grow our economy and move our state forward as one Oregon," he added. Senate Bill 1000 would: Amend Oregon’s existing non-discrimination laws to include protection for sexual minorities in housing, employment, public accommodation, public services and education. Currently the law protects women, minorities and victims of sexual harassment, among others. Allow two members of the same sex who are at least 17 to enter into a civil union with the same legal protections, rights and responsibilities as married couples. Efforts in the past to extend civil rights protections to gays and lesbians have failed in the Legislature. This is the first attempt at establishing civil unions for same-sex couples. Bates said denying gays and lesbians some form of civil union "is to deny them basic rights that are provided to everyone else — taking care of a sick partner, joint health coverage, transfer of property, among others." The Medford physician said he had no trouble prohibiting same-sex couples from marrying. No matter how the court rules — Bates believes it will uphold civil unions — "this bill is right, and necessary." Asked about its chances in the Legislature, particularly the House which is controlled by conservative Republicans, Bates admitted, "It’s not 100 percent sure of passing, but there is a good chance." Rep. Dennis Richardson, R-Central Point, said he had not yet seen the bill and declined to comment in detail. "I do believe the House will be concerned that it does not circumvent the will of people who supported Measure 36," Richardson said. The measure will probably be heard by the Senate Rules Committee, chaired by Brown. "This will probably be one of the most important bills we will deal with," said Bates, adding that he believes a majority of Oregonians can support civil unions and extending anti- discrimination laws to include gays and lesbians. Don Jepsen is a free-lance writer living in Salem. Mail Tribune Home | Local News | Sports | Business | Obituaries | Life | Opinion AP News | Archives | Site Map | Community | Classified Copyright © 1997-2005 Mail Tribune, Inc. All rights reserved. Privacy Policy | Terms & Conditions | Website Feedback Student Loan Consolidation Conference Calls - $50/Month Home Security Systems Trunks, Footlocker, Trunk, Footlockers home equity loans helzberg Distance Education Diamonds Slippers Student Loans afsa teleconferencing Memory Foam Mattress w2 forms Tatoo Fasa Advertisement s