Victory for Same-Sex Families in Oregon

Some good news to start the week:

By a mere 116 names, opponents of Oregon’s new same-sex domestic partnership law did not turn in enough valid signatures to suspend the measure and place it on the November 2008 ballot. This means the law will take effect next year, giving registered partners equal state rights related to inheritance, child-rearing and custody, joint state tax filings, health, auto and homeowners insurance policies, hospital visitation, and more.

Basic Rights Oregon cautions, however, that the fight for LGBT equality continues in the Beaver State:

The Secretary of State’s office is still counting signatures on the attempt to refer our new nondiscrimination law [to the November 2008 ballot]. We expect to hear more by the end of the week.

And anti-gay groups have vowed to try again, using the initiative process to try to REPEAL the law. This would give them until next July 3rd to collect roughly 82,000 signatures.

Congratulations to all who worked to secure the domestic partnership victory. May you be as successful in the coming challenges.

(If you’re looking for a funny read about the brief period of marriage equality in Multnomah County, Oregon, try Beren DeMotier’s The Brides of March: Memoir of a Same-Sex Marriage, which I reviewed in June.)