The Oregon Family Fairness Act passes in the Oregon House.
(SALEM) - In what will be remembered as a historic decision, the Oregon House has voted to pass the Oregon Family Fairness Act (House Bill 2007) that will allow gay marriage in Oregon.
Bryan Boyd with Basic Rights Oregon, says it is the day they have waited many years for.
"This is absolutely fantastic, the day we were waiting for for a number of years." House Bill 2007 still has to go back to Senate, but Boyd says they are "feel very confident" of Senate passage.
The Oregon Family Fairness Act: HB 2007 would create a new statute in Oregon law that would legally recognize committed same-sex relationships as Domestic Partnerships. HB 2007 would grant same-sex couples a limited set of vital protections, rights and responsibilities to keep them and their families safe in times of crisis.
Supporters of Senate Bill 2, the Oregon Equality Act, are still waiting for an answer from the House. 34 years in the making, SB 2 is a comprehensive, statewide non-discrimination bill that would prohibit discrimination in employment, housing and public accommodation, on the basis of sexual orientation in Oregon.
Boyd says the opposition has pledged to bring both bills via referendum in 2008.
He says it all comes down to this; "We believe the majority of Oregonians are against discrimination."
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