Fairness and Protections Won for LGBT Community

Bills are signed in Oregon and New Hampshire for LGBT rights

The LGBT community in Oregon won basic fairness and equal protection on May 9, when Governor Ted Kulongoski signed into law two bills to establish domestic partnerships and to ban discrimination based on sexual orientation in the state.

Endorsed unanimously by the Senate’s majority Democrats, with support from two Republicans, the domestic partnerships measure would enable same-sex couples to enter into contractual relationships that grant them the same benefits offered to married couples under state law. The second piece of legislation would ban discrimination against LGBT individuals in employment and housing.

A bill to legalize civil unions for same-sex couples in New Hampshire beginning in January was signed by Governor John Lynch on May 30.


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