WHAT NEXT IN OREGON: From The Oregonian

...The American Civil Liberties Union of Oregon, which filed the case rejected by the Supreme Court last week, will file another lawsuit within the next few weeks seeking civil unions for same-sex couples, said David Fidanque, executive director.

"In case the Legislature doesn't act," he said, "we have to move forward with a new lawsuit."

A civil union law would give gay and lesbian couples the same property, inheritance and medical rights that married couples have. If the Legislature passes such a law, groups opposing it say, they, too, will file a lawsuit.

The Senate plans hearings within a couple of weeks on Senate Bill 1000, which would provide civil unions and prohibit discrimination against gays and lesbians in employment, housing and other areas. ...

In place of civil unions, the Oregon Family Council, a group that publishes a Christian voter guide, will push a "reciprocal benefits" bill modeled after a law adopted in Hawaii, said Tim Nashif, political director. ...

A reciprocal benefits law would allow same-sex couples or other adults who cannot marry -- for example, two sisters -- inheritance and burial rights as well as the ability to make medical decisions for one another. ...

Some gays and lesbians, however, oppose civil unions as an unacceptable compromise that gives them second-class status.

Love Makes a Family, a group for gay and lesbian families, will not fight SB 1000, but neither will it support it, said the Rev. Cecil Charles Prescod, director.

"We feel it may, in fact, limit the possibility of gaining full marriage equality," he said.

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posted by Eve at 10:12 AM VOTE

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