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Current Headlines
Press Release – Court Ruling: Domestic Partnership Law Will Go Into Effect Monday, February 4th
***FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE***
Court Ruling: Domestic Partnership Law Will Go Into Effect Monday, February 4th
Committed, Caring Couples Throughout Oregon Will Get Rights, Protections
A federal court has ruled that Oregon’s domestic partnership law should go into effect, as it was originally scheduled to do on January 2, 2008.
“We won this case on the merits,” said Jeana Frazzini, Executive Director of Basic Rights Oregon. “But the real winners today are the thousands of caring, committed couples who will have access to the rights and responsibilities of domestic partnership.” Basic Rights Oregon had intervened in the case to assist the state in defending the law.
Judge Michael Mosman ruled at 4:25 PM today that opponents of domestic partnership did, indeed, fail to gather the necessary signatures to place the law on the ballot for referendum. “Today the court validated what we’ve known all along – that the support for domestic partnerships in Oregon is strong, and these out-of-state anti-gay groups were trying to cheat Oregon’s election system because they failed,” said Frazzini.
The law takes effect immediately, so county offices will begin to issue domestic partnerships on Monday morning at 9 AM. While domestic partnerships fall short of full marriage rights, they do provide important protections like hospital visitation rights, the ability to make medical decisions for an ailing partner, and estate inheritance.
“These rights are so basic, yet they have been denied to thousands of Oregon couples like my partner and me, who are willing to make a commitment to each other and do the hard work of a long-term relationship. It’s time for basic fairness for all Oregon couples,” said Representative Tina Kotek (D-N/NE Portland).
Today’s ruling, however, is not likely to bring a close to the battle. The Arizona-based Alliance Defense Fund, a right-wing group who files anti-gay and anti-choice lawsuits around the country and who filed the Oregon suit, has said they will appeal the ruling.
“It’s too bad that these out-of-state groups are so determined and desperate to undermine equality in Oregon,” said Frazzini. “But we will continue to prevail because Oregonians don’t share their narrow-minded views. Oregonians support domestic partnerships and want to see all families protected.”
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About Basic Rights Oregon
Basic Rights Oregon is a nonprofit, nonpartisan, statewide advocacy organization whose mission is to end discrimination based on sexual orientation and gender identity in Oregon. For more information, please visit our website at www.basicrights.org.
This entry was posted on Friday, February 1st, 2008 at 6:43 pm and is filed under Press. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.
February 1st, 2008 at 7:53 pm
Yeaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Thank you for everything that you have done to make this happen. I’m so excited right now that I can’t even think of anything else to say. Just thank you.
February 1st, 2008 at 8:54 pm
Thank you, BRO!
February 1st, 2008 at 9:11 pm
It annoys me to have our commitment relegated to a back room with no priest, or friends or celebration. What other sign of second class status do you need?
Let’s get something going for Sunday. The forms are online and easily printed. All we need is a notary. Certainly we can find a location and help a whole bunch of couples get all the paperwork done before Monday. It should somehow be between time for Church, and for the Super bowl.
February 1st, 2008 at 9:41 pm
My Partner And I Have again taken off work to Get
some of our rights on Monday, will see what
happens, but I urge everyone if something
does happens again. we need to get a class action
law suite going….
Peace Toni
February 1st, 2008 at 10:19 pm
Thank you BRO!
I was at the vigil with my friend.
I was at the rally with my partner.
Everyone who spoke gave us such hope.
You all are truly beautiful people.
Thank you for all of your hard work.
I raise a toast to you tonight, warriors.
You have made our future together much
brighter.
February 1st, 2008 at 10:44 pm
[...] to the citizens of Oregon who have at long last won the right to domestic partnerships. From the Basic Rights Oregon press release: Judge Michael Mosman ruled at 4:25 PM today that opponents of domestic partnership [...]
February 1st, 2008 at 10:55 pm
I love you all! Thank you for your hard work.
This means so much to us all. Nancy
February 1st, 2008 at 11:03 pm
where are the forms?? cant find…
February 1st, 2008 at 11:21 pm
when is the next celebration?
February 2nd, 2008 at 9:16 am
The direct link to the forms is: http://www.oregon.gov/DHS/ph/chs/order/dp.shtml.
I suggest you read the “Form Instructions – for the Public” to make sure you do it correctly.
Don’t forget – it MUST be printed on 8 1/2″ by 14″ paper.
February 2nd, 2008 at 5:54 pm
Thank goodness! Let’s hope my state will follow quickly!
February 2nd, 2008 at 9:25 pm
I am so happy for you all. You have all been in my thoughts and prayers while you were waiting for this ruling. I live in California and even though we have domestic partnerships the same group is here as well trying to get signatures to prevent gay marriage and to repeal our domestic partnerships. Don’t give up the fight. You are an inspiration to us here.
February 3rd, 2008 at 6:22 pm
I agree that it is sad that we cannot have our full rights as LGBT citizens but it just means that we are going to have to keep on working until the country finally realizes that we are all equal and that marriage is a right not a privilege.
February 4th, 2008 at 7:31 am
[...] Judge says Oregon’s domestic partnership law can go ahead today. They didn’t have enough signatures to block it, oh [...]
February 4th, 2008 at 10:10 am
registered!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
February 4th, 2008 at 10:17 am
[...] Court Ruling: Domestic Partnership Law Will Go Into Effect Monday, February 4th Posted on February 4, 2008 by marchmoon From Basic Rights Oregon: [...]
February 4th, 2008 at 11:19 am
[...] the fundies’ latest baseless court challenge down the drain, domestic partnerships are a reality in Oregon as of today: “We won this case on the merits,” said Jeana Frazzini, [...]
February 4th, 2008 at 1:41 pm
[...] full press release is available from Basic Rights Oregon; the ruling came down Friday afternoon to the shock of many in the community. A constitutional [...]
February 4th, 2008 at 3:27 pm
Please tell folks that the DP application form
must be printed on legal sized paper (11″ x 14″
– required). This morning many couples arrived
with notarized applications that were rejected
because the website allows them to be printed
on standard sized paper (8-1/2″ x 11″ — not
accepted). Also, free notary may be available
through a county or city office.
Mazeltov!
February 4th, 2008 at 3:47 pm
Thank you BRO for all your hard work! This is a very joyous day and it brings me hope for the future. Given the seriously nature of entering a legally binding committment to another person, where can I find a thorough list of the rights that are included in the law before my partner and I take this step?
February 4th, 2008 at 7:48 pm
[...] links: Court Ruling: Domestic Partnership Law Will Go Into Effect Monday, Feb. 4 Judge’s Ruling Lifts Stay on Civil Unions Published [...]
February 5th, 2008 at 3:41 pm
FINALLY!!!!!!!! I’m sooo excited for all the couples who are Finally being given
the rights they Deserve. Good job BRO and thank you for working so hard!
I’ll be there with you fighting against whatever any right-winged group
decides to throw out at us next. Promote Love! Not Hate!
February 7th, 2008 at 2:26 pm
Does anyone know about how our D.P. will affect
student aid? My husband’s parents make too much for
him to get federal aid, but maybe the state will
recognize it now. We don’t get anything from his parents.
We’re both students and would benefit greatly from
some help here. I imagine we might need to ask a
lawyer, but food and rent are more important in the short term.
Thank you so much for all you’ve already done!
February 14th, 2008 at 11:33 am
Thank you so much for your hard work in getting this passed. I love you guys.
February 25th, 2008 at 12:56 pm
It’s nice to see the celebratory mood although I’m
sure it’ll be even better when the legislature
decides that even the explicit text of Measure
36 needs to be overridden as well. Fear not…
it’s a sure bet that if the citizens cannot be
induced to do what you want, there’s a judge out
there who will. Sort of sad that one has to
subvert democracy to achieve a desirable outcome,
isn’t it?