Oregon Gov. Calls For Anti-Homophobia Law
by 365Gay.com from the Web, January 11, 2005
Salem, OR -- Oregon Gov. Ted Kulongoski is calling for gay civil rights legislation to outlaw discrimination against gays and lesbians.
In his "state-of-the-state" address to a joint session of the Legislature Monday Kulongoski said he would submit a bill this year to "defend social justice, tolerance and diversity."
The speech marked the opening of the 2005 session of the Legislature.
"We also face a great moral challenge: To make sure that opportunity is an open door through which every citizen can pass — not a revolving door that turns for some and doesn't budge for others," Kulongoski told lawmakers.
"This is a moral challenge because if we do not defend social justice, tolerance and diversity — then the progress we make on the economic front will be bought with compromised principles and a weakened human spirit," Kulongoski said.
"That is not a trade-off I can accept."
Kulongoski has been a longtime supporter of a gay civil rights law but attempts to get a bill through the Legislature have faced tough opposition in the past.
This time he linked the issue to the state's economy saying a civil rights law would help bring new business into the Oregon.
Kulongoski also said he supported a proposed bill to legalize civil unions.
The legislation would give gay couples many of the rights of married people.
House Majority Leader Wayne Scott (R-Canby) said he would oppose both bills calling them "unnecessary."
In November Oregon voters joined voters in 10 other states to approve a constitutional amendment banning gay marriage.
The issue of same-sex couples is currently before the state's Supreme Court.
In December the Court was told that the Oregon Constitution requires that same-sex couples receive the same legal protections as couples that get married.
The court was hearing arguments in a case that began when Multnomah County last March began issuing marriage licenses to same-sex couples.
The court must decide two issues: what to do about the nearly 3,000 marriages performed after Multnomah County began issuing licenses last year, and whether, despite the ban on gay marriage the Constitution requires the state to provide rights and benefits to same-sex couples.
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