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Senator Merkley Speaks out on Marriage Equality

U.S. Senator Merkley won the support of Basic Rights Oregon in his race last year because his a solid supporter of equality who has a record of delivering on his promises.  As Speaker of the Oregon House, he played a critical role in winning domestic partnerships and nondiscrimination protections for gay and transgender Oregonians.

Now he’s bringing his leadership to the U.S. Senate. 

Over at Blue Oregon, Kevin Kamberg did an interview he did with Senator Merkley.  You can read the full text here.  I’ve pasted excerpts below.

Q & A with Senator Merkley – by Kevin Kamberg

Q:  You recently co-sponsored the Domestic Partnership Benefits and Obligations Act which, as you put it, “is a step in the right direction to make sure that all Americans are compensated equally under the law.” Would this extend to members of the military, or civilian employees of the DoD?

A:  The Domestic Partnership Benefits and Obligations Act will extend the same employee and health benefits that married couples have to all federal employees regardless of their sexual orientation and that includes employees at the DOD. However, the bill does not extend health and employment benefits to members of the military because it’s in conflict with Don’t Ask Don’t Tell. I believe it is long past time to get rid of Don’t Ask Don’t Tell and allow members of the military to receive the same benefits married couples have as well as be able to serve openly in the military.

Q: What are your thoughts on the recent California Supreme Court ruling on the state’s Proposition 8? In light of this ruling, what do you feel is the future of marriage equality in Oregon?

A: As a supporter of gay marriage, I am very disappointed that Prop 8 was allowed to stand, but glad that the couples who married while gay marriage was allowed in California had their marriages upheld. But the court decision in California shouldn’t overshadow the tremendous gains that have been made in just the last few months. It was exciting to see Iowa become the first state in the heartland to end marriage discrimination. In addition, a number of states decided that the politics of division weren’t strong enough to prevent them from doing the right thing. Moreover, polls show an ever-increasing number of Americans support extending marriage rights to same sex couples.

While Oregon’s constitutional amendment defining marriage is a significant obstacle to the establishment of equality in Oregon, I am hopeful that the conversation in Oregon will continue and that Oregon will eventually choose to support marriage equality as the only right course under our U.S. constitutional guarantee of equality under the law for all Americans.