Three makes a trend.

Last month at press time, bills to establish civil unions or domestic partnerships in three states--Oregon, New Hampshire. and Washington--were on the verge of near-certain passage or headed to a governor's desk for signature. The bills signal a break in the trend toward antigay legislation at the state level and introduce a new era of sophistication on behalf of LGBT political groups.

"It's not a case of having a great bill and just walking into a building and passing it." said Aisling Coghlan, interim executive director of Basic Rights Oregon (BRO), which organized a combined effort to pass a civil unions bill and an antidiscrimination bill, due to be signed into law by Gov. Ted Kulongoski. "We have to elect the right people and build coalitions in the community so that we're not the only ones in there fighting for it."

In April 2004 a Iower Oregon court halted same-sex marriages; voters later that year passed a constitutional amendment banning same-sex marriage. BRO responded by brokering a high-profile gubernatorial task force, which led to both antidiscrimination and civil unions bills in this year's legislation. Meanwhile. activists mobilized voters to oust four key Republicans in last year's election, turning control of the Oregon house over to Democrats and thus deposing rabidly antigay house speaker Karen Minnis from her post.

Similarly, in historically conservative New Hampshire, Democrats last year took control of the legislature for the first time since 1874. By late April the state house had passed a comprehensive civil unions bill that the senate appears certain to support. Democratic governor John Lynch confirmed he would approve the measure.

Washington state's domestic partner bill--passed by the legislature and due at press time to be signed by Democratic governor Christine Gregoire--was less ambitious. It provides only a dozen of the more than 400 rights conferred by marriage in that state. Nevertheless, activists call it a historic step forward and promise legislation next year that will expand the law.

The Washington law will likely take effect in July, the Oregon and New Hampshire legislation in January 2008. Rumblings of ballot initiatives to repeal the three states' anticipated new laws are already being heard--and a counterattack by LGBT activists is being plotted. But for now three more states are joining New Jersey; Maine, Connecticut, Vermont, California, Hawaii, and Massachusetts as the first 10 to extend some degree of recognition and protection to same-sex couples. Hallelujah.