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JANUARY
northwest
Thanks (Christine!
Defeated Civil Unions
Bill Resurrected
Does Senate Bill 1000 have a fighting chance in 2007?
by Jaymee R. Cuti
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early 30 years have passed
since a group of Oregonians
known as the Sexual
Preference Task Force made
recommendations to then
Gov. Robert Straub.
Although Oregon could have been
one of the first states to outlaw anti-gay
discrimination, as the advisory body
called for in the late 1970s, its queer res
idents remain without legal protection
against unfair treatment in a variety of
settings including housing, employment
and public accommodations. Little legal
ground has been won despite the lobby
ing efforts of longtime activists—even
during sessions when Democrats were in
power. Yet a few factors seem to make
2007 the prime session for passing a bill
mandating equal treatment for queer
Oregonians.
To the frustration of Senate Bill
1000 champions, Gov. Ted Kulongoski’s
Oregon House Speaker-elect Jeff Merkley will ensure a
Task Force on Equality made recom
House debate for gay rights legislation.
mendations Dec. 21 that essentially
echo rhe goals of the defeated bill. In its report, the
Merkley, a civil unions supporter, said he plans
task force recommended that state law should
to put measures in place to restore the Oregon
prohibit discrimination based on sexual orientation
House policy of debating a bill that a majority
and should provide a framework for legal recogni
wishes to discuss, referred to as the “rule of 31.”
tion of same-sex relationships in a form that is dif
“If a majority of members call for it, we will
ferent from marriage. That could take the form of have a debate. That was the rule that was destroyed
civil unions, which are congruent with Measure 36,
in the last session for the first time in Oregon’s
the statewide same-sex marriage ban.
history,” said Merkley.
The task force’s report was a culmination of
With a “bread and butter agenda” mostly
testimony given by business owners, civil leaders
centered on funding education, providing health
and people who have experienced discrimination
care to children and enhancing state trooper
plus a review of anti-bias laws enacted in 10
presence, Merkley will also foster a tone of biparti
Oregon cities, two counties and 17 other states.
san collaboration by giving priority to bills with
The day after the November 2006 election,
support from both sides.
a victorious Kulongoski promised that anti
Merkley says his sway toward social justice
discrimination legislation would have its day of issues stems from the experience of growing up in a
fair debate in the Legislature.
working-class family. His father developed a keen
“1 believe we have before us a historic opportu compass for fairness while working in Latin
nity to make change in 2007, and you have my
America during World War II. According to
word that the legislative session will not end until
Merkley, his father was “profoundly offended” that
we have had a fair and open debate on pro-equality
Costa Rican nationals earned a 10th of what he
legislation in the House and Senate,’’ he said. That
and other Americans were paid to build the same
discussion is expected in April or May.
highways. “Thar is a framework that resonates with
Though Basic Rights Oregon insiders refuse to
me and what I’ve been about,” Merkley said.
13efore entering Oregon politics in 1998, the
reveal details about the type of bill they plan to
bring to the Legislature, they say it will be “very
Portland native pursued a master’s degree in public
similar” to SB 1000, with minor adjustments in the
policy at Princeton University, was a presidential
phrasing of education-based policy to inoculate the
management intern in 1982, worked in the defense
arguments of opponents.
secretary’s office and served Congress as a budget
The leadership of House Speaker-elect Jeff and policy analyst. Upon returning to Oregon in
Merkley, D-Portland, also portends advances in
1991, Merkley became executive director of
civil rights for sexual minorities.
Portland Habitat for Humanity, initiated a pilot
“When [House Speaker Karen MinnisJ resorted
project for Youth Build in which gang-affiliated
to the kind of maneuvers that she did to block SB
youth build homes in their neighborhixxls and
1000, I don’t think there was anyone more
served as director of housing development at
incensed and more unwilling to let it go than Jeff Human Solutions, a project that creates affordable
Merkley,” said Rebekah Orr, a spokeswoman tran complexes for low-income families. He was named
sitioning from the communications director post at
House Democratic leader in 2003 and re-elected in
2005. ©
BRO to that position for the House Democrats.