The Oregon Legislature's Senate Rules Committee took the first step today, Tuesday, June 7 toward ensuring fairness for all Oregon families, regardless of sexual orientation, by approving by a 3-2 vote Senate Bill 1073, which creates civil unions providing all of as the state protections and responsibilities of marriage to same-sex couples and their families.

"Never before has the Oregon Legislature acted to provide Oregon same-sex couples with the legal protections all families require every day and in times of crisis," said Basic Rights Oregon Executive Director Roey Thorpe. "Basic Rights Oregon applauds the courage of Senators who today ensured that fairness and decency won out over prejudice."

The Senate Rules Commitee vote, however, is just the first step in the legislative process needed to make SB 1073 the law in Oregon. The bill must now be approved by a floor vote in the before moving to the Oregon House. With less than 30 days left in the legislative session, Basic Rights Oregon is urging the Oregon Senate to act quickly and approve the bill.

"For Oregon same-sex couples, and we don't even know which ones will be hit hardest, each day that goes by without civil unions is a day that families are vulnerable to tragedy and two more years is too long to wait for another try in another legislative session," said Thorpe. "Oregon lawmakers now have it within their power to prevent these tragedies and we are counting on them to side with decency and fairness and pass SB 1073 immediately."

This entry was posted on Tuesday, June 07, 2005 at 5:36 PM. Want to discuss? Leave a comment below.