A great editorial from today's Oregonian set off by Portland City Commishioner Sam Adams' lawsuit file in conunction wiith Basic Rights Oregon. The Oregonian calls for civil unions and anti-discrimination legislation in '07.

From OregonLive.com:

Gay? Breaking up is harder to do
A lawsuit filed by City Commissioner Sam Adams showcases the need for civil unions and basic fairness

For obvious reasons, the push for equal treatment of gays and lesbians has mainly highlighted happy-ever-after stories. Almost from the beginning, though, reality has protruded through the shimmer of the fairy tale.

Just last summer, in fact, Julie and Hillary Goodridge split up. The seemingly storybook-perfect couple, who won the right to marry in Massachusetts after 20 years of living together, changed their minds after only two years of wedded nonbliss. Sadly, their lawsuit against the state proved more successful than their marriage.

What does that say about same-sex marriage? The same thing your neighbor's divorce says about opposite-sex marriage: Nothing. No grand conclusions can be drawn from any family's breakup. What may surprise many people, however, are the added burdens gays and lesbians in Oregon face when their romantic partnerships do dissolve.

Read the rest over there.

Labels: basic rights oregon, civil union, discrimination, gay rights, lawsuit, oregon

This entry was posted on Friday, February 23, 2007 at 10:06 AM. Want to discuss? Leave a comment below.