Domestic union law survives challenge.Byline: David Steves The Register-GuardSALEM - Oregon's domestic partnership law for same-sex couples A same-sex couple is a pair of people of the same gender who pursue a romantic or sexual relationship together. The term "same-sex relationship" may be used when the sexual orientation of participants in a same-sex relationship is not known. passed its last obstacle Monday, clearing the way for lesbian and gay couples to form marriagelike unions starting in January. The state Elections Division determined that petitioners for an attempted referendum referendum, referral of proposed laws or constitutional amendments to the electorate for final approval. This direct form of legislation, along with the initiative, was known in Greece and other early democracies. failed to submit enough valid signatures to force a statewide vote on the 2007 law. It needed the signatures of 55,179 voters, but a random sampling indicated that 55,063 of its signatures were valid. Had the campaign met the signature threshold, then the law would have been suspended sus·pend v. sus·pend·ed, sus·pend·ing, sus·pends v.tr. 1. To bar for a period from a privilege, office, or position, usually as a punishment: suspend a student from school. , pending the outcome of a November 2008 vote. "This is just really terrific news, and it's a proud day for Oregon," said John Hummel hummel entire, naturally polled deer. , executive director of the gay-rights group Basic Rights Oregon Basic Rights Oregon is the largest non-profit gay rights organization in the U.S. state of Oregon. Based in Portland, its mission is to "end discrimination based on sexual orientation and gender identity in Oregon. , which championed the domestic-partnership law and companion anti-discrimination legislation during the 2007 Legislature. The Elections Division has not yet determined whether enough valid signatures were submitted for a separate petition drive to force a statewide vote on a law that bans discrimination based on sexual orientation sexual orientation n. The direction of one's sexual interest toward members of the same, opposite, or both sexes, especially a direction seen to be dictated by physiologic rather than sociologic forces. . The division's Carla Corbin said a determination on that petition drive should be made by Thursday or Friday. Despite coming up short, a leader of the anti-gay-rights effort said the fight to overturn domestic-partnership rights is far from over. Former legislator LEGISLATOR. One who makes laws. 2. In order to make good laws, it is necessary to understand those which are in force; the legislator ought therefore, to be thoroughly imbued with a knowledge of the laws of his country, their advantages and defects; to Marylin Shannon of Brooks said petitioners were looking into legal options, given that they came up just 116 signatures short. "If this stop is final, then they plan to file two initiatives to stop each of these two laws," said Shannon, spokeswoman for Defense of Marriage Again. Hummel said coming up short of the threshold signature for a referendum, which is lower than that for statutory or constitutional initiatives, made an important statement about Oregonians' attitudes. "I think it shows how out of step they are with Oregon values," he said. Norm Fox, who worked on the signature drive in Lane County, said the shortfall was more about nuts-and-bolts organizing than the electorate's values. Fox said the four months since the law passed was too short for the campaign to get its message out to potential supporters, such as churches. That message, he said, is that domestic partnerships pose as much a threat to traditional values Traditional values refer to those beliefs, moral codes, and mores that are passed down from generation to generation within a culture, subculture or community. Since the late 1970s in the U.S. as gay marriage - which was banned under a constitutional measure passed in 2004. The domestic partnerships law "substantially changes a very basic human institution, and that is marriage," said Fox, an educator at a program for Christian home-schooled students. "We believe this is very much about marriage, and it was just a matter of just not getting our message out." The domestic partnership law, passed as House Bill 2007, allows same-sex adult couples to form unions that grant the same benefits and responsibilities as those extended under Oregon law to married couples. Tim Smith Tim Smith is a common name. Notable people with the name Tim Smith include:
adj. Having existed or persisted for a long time: a longtime friend; a longtime resident of Detroit. longtime Adjective partner are looking forward to forming a domestic partnership as soon as the law takes effect. He said the prospect of an initiative drive and possible campaign in 2008 isn't one he looks forward to. But he expressed hope that, with a domestic partnership law on the books for months by then, Oregonians would not see it as the threat that opponents say it is. "I think the experience of domestic partnerships will show that those negative effects just aren't there," he said. "This is an opportunity to prove otherwise and then to move on, which is what we would prefer. We just want to live our lives." |
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