The reciprocal benefits bill is being introduced today in Salem. The point of this new 'reciprocal benefits' bill is to undermine the bill (SB 1000 - civil unions and statewide non-discrimination act) introduced by Gov. Kulongowski and sponsored by two senate republicans and two democrats.

Who is helping to introduce the reciprocal benefits bill? The same people who helped pass the hateful and discriminatory Meausure 36 this past November. They also happen to be the same people who said the following statements during the Constitutional Amendment 36 campaign...

"Same-sex couples should seek marriage-like rights through another avenue, such as civil unions."
- Tim Nashif, Oregon Family Council Director and an organizer of the Measure 36 campaign, Bend Bulletin 8/20/2004

Or this (for a complete list of these hypocritical quotes click here)...

"If same-sex couples need legal protection, they should consult their legislative representatives. If they need legislation to do that, no one is going to stand in their way."
- Defense of Marriage Coalition, Executive Director Mike White, Lincoln City News Guard 11/10/2004

So if "no one is going to stand in our way" - what the hell are they doing now? They have hired a lobbyist for the first time to work Salem. "Rumors" of internal memos show how disgusting these people are and how much they hate gays and lesbians. It is amazing that these people dedicate their lives to trying to fight against civil rights and "morals".The "Defense of Marriage Coalition's" attorney, Kelly Clark, has an interesting past as most of us know. On June 10, 1992, at 2 am Clark broke into his ex-girlfriend's Keizer home, disconnected the phone line, and locked the door behind him. She awoke with Clark standing above her in bed. For four hours, he subjected her to what the courts deemed "sexual contact without consent." I assume that would be rape.

Clark later pleaded guilty to criminal trespass and third-degree sexual abuse, paid a $5,000 fine and received five years' probation. The Oregon State Bar suspended his license to practice law for two months. Then he disappeared.

Are these morals? For some reason I was brought up thinking that wasn't a good thing to do. I guess it makes sense that he is their attorney though.

So back to the reciprocal benefits bill. Why is it so important to pass our civil unions bill instead? This week opponents of fairness for GLBT Oregonians, the Oregon Family Council, Defense of Marriage Coalition and extreme house conservatives, are introducing a "Reciprocal Beneficiaries" bill in the Oregon house. This bill is an attempt by religious extremists to appear "moderate", to undermine any real chance at fairness for same-sex couples and to dominate the terms of this debate by making civil unions look 'too extreme' for Oregon.

With this move by the Right and Senate Bill 1000 firmly supported in the senate, the name of the game now in the Oregon legislature is negotiation. If Oregon lawmakers don't hear from supporters of REAL fairness and equality, then those on the fringe will decide this issue for the rest of us.

Our opponents say this bill addresses "legitimate issues of fairness" for same-sex couples. But don't be fooled. Reciprocal beneficiaries are anything but fair. . .and they are not the same as civil unions.

• While civil unions provide roughly 500 rights and protections, reciprocal beneficiaries chip away at the bedrock of family protections civil unions offer to provide only a handful of rights (most of which can already be achieved through contracts).

• While civil unions seek to recognize committed same-sex relationships and create a lasting family unit, reciprocal beneficiaries degrade these relationships by lumping same-sex couples into a status also available to two siblings, roommates, parents and children, or two widows.

• The State of Oregon has a moral and constitutional obligation to ensure that all committed, same-sex couples have the ability to enter into a civil status that allows their families to be treated equally under the law.

• In the debate over same-sex marriage, civil unions (Senate Bill 1000) are the only reasonable compromise in step with Oregon's values of fairness and dignity for all its citizens.

This entry was posted on Tuesday, May 03, 2005 at 9:30 AM. Want to discuss? Leave a comment below.