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Gov. Kulongoski signs historic gay-rights legislation Wednesday
by Jason N. Reed | News Reporter |
Oregon Gov. Ted Kulongoski signed two landmark bills into law Wednesday that will not only advance gay rights in Oregon, but will have national impact as well.
Fifty-two percent of the U.S. population will live in jurisdictions protecting gay, lesbian and bisexual people - the first time the halfway mark has been passed - after Oregon's anti-discrimination bill was signed by the governor.
"There's really a surge in momentum of gains for new rights for the (lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and queer) community as well as rights for same-sex couples," said Thalia Zepatos, director of organizing and training for the National Gay and Lesbian Task Force.
Oregon will join two other states - Iowa and Colorado- that have passed non-discrimination laws since Jan. 1, 2007, and the Vermont legislature recently amended its existing non-discrimination laws as well.
Not every state with protections for gay and lesbian people also afford those rights to transgender people, but 37 percent of the U.S. population will live in jurisdictions that will protect transgendered people after all four of the states' laws go into effect.
"Our hope is simple. It is for the day when Oregon families will no longer be forced into uncertainty in times of crisis and when no Oregonian will be fired from their job, denied housing or denied an education, simply because of who they are or who they love. Today marks a moment in time when Oregonians proudly made hope a reality, and created a fairer, more equal Oregon," said Basic Rights Oregon's Executive Director John Hummel at the signing ceremony, according to a Basic Rights Oregon press release.
Senate Bill 2, the Oregon Equality Act, will outlaw discrimination based on sexual orientation and gender identity in areas such as housing, public accommodation, public education, employment and public services.
Oregon residents and gay rights activists have been working for 34 years to pass a law making discrimination based on sexual orientation illegal. The new law will not apply to religious organizations, employers and institutions, as the bill was amended in the legislative process to exempt these groups.
Fifty-two percent of the U.S. population will live in jurisdictions protecting gay, lesbian and bisexual people - the first time the halfway mark has been passed - after Oregon's anti-discrimination bill was signed by the governor.
"There's really a surge in momentum of gains for new rights for the (lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and queer) community as well as rights for same-sex couples," said Thalia Zepatos, director of organizing and training for the National Gay and Lesbian Task Force.
Oregon will join two other states - Iowa and Colorado- that have passed non-discrimination laws since Jan. 1, 2007, and the Vermont legislature recently amended its existing non-discrimination laws as well.
Not every state with protections for gay and lesbian people also afford those rights to transgender people, but 37 percent of the U.S. population will live in jurisdictions that will protect transgendered people after all four of the states' laws go into effect.
"Our hope is simple. It is for the day when Oregon families will no longer be forced into uncertainty in times of crisis and when no Oregonian will be fired from their job, denied housing or denied an education, simply because of who they are or who they love. Today marks a moment in time when Oregonians proudly made hope a reality, and created a fairer, more equal Oregon," said Basic Rights Oregon's Executive Director John Hummel at the signing ceremony, according to a Basic Rights Oregon press release.
Senate Bill 2, the Oregon Equality Act, will outlaw discrimination based on sexual orientation and gender identity in areas such as housing, public accommodation, public education, employment and public services.
Oregon residents and gay rights activists have been working for 34 years to pass a law making discrimination based on sexual orientation illegal. The new law will not apply to religious organizations, employers and institutions, as the bill was amended in the legislative process to exempt these groups.
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