Tonight, the Oregon senate Judiciary Committee passed Senate Bill 2, the bill that would ban discrimination based on sexual orientation. The bill passed on a 3-1 vote, with Sen. Beyer absent from the vote. Senate Bill 2 would ban legalized discrimination based on sexual orientation and gender identity in Oregon--a bill that is over 3 decades in the making... or is it three decades overdue?

In any case, it is on its way to the Senate floor. Fmr. Oregon Senator Starr opened the day by letting the committee know that "Gays have an average lifespan of 40 years" and that "Gays on average will have 4 STD's". Good to know right? This in comparison was better to last sessions comment on the "amount of fecal matter one consumes in their lifetime". No yeah, this guy believes what he is saying.

From BRO:

Today, after 6 hours of public and invited testimony--the Senate Judiciary Committee passed Senate Bill 2, The Oregon Equality Act, by a 3-1 vote. The Oregon Equality Act is a bill that would ban discrimination based on sexual orientation and gender identity in Oregon and ensure basic fairness to all of Oregon's citizens.

"Today's vote is a significant step toward ensuring that in Oregon the inherent values of fairness and equality reign over prejudice and fear,” said Basic Rights Oregon Interim Executive Director Aisling Coghlan. "In passing Senate Bill 2 the Senate Judiciary Committee has sent a clear message that discrimination against gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender people and their families is wrong and has absolutely no place in the State of Oregon."

Basic Rights Oregon applauds the commitment, courage and determination of Committee Chair, Senator Ginny Burdick, Senator Vicki Walker, and Senator Floyd Prozanski who sit on the Senate Judiciary Committee and voted in favor of basic fairness for all Oregonians.

Senate Bill 2 will now move to the Senate Floor for a full vote.

So here we go again. Most of us will remember Senate Bill 1000 last session here in Oregon. SB 1000 would have not only banned discrimination based on sexual orientation, as well as created civil unions for same-sex couples.

Labels: basic rights oregon, discrimination, legislature, oregon, SB 2

This entry was posted on Tuesday, March 13, 2007 at 12:03 AM. Want to discuss? Leave a comment below.