The new law allowing same sex couples to establish domestic partnerships was in front of the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals in Oregon.

Or, more precisely, judges heard about an attempt to refer that law to the ballot, using Oregon’s referendum system. And as Rob Manning reports, the arguments weren’t really about gay rights — they were about the rights of people who sign election petitions.

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(AP) — Oregon’s domestic partnership law came under legal fire again Tuesday, as opponents tried to persuade three judges from the 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals that elections officials had wrongly disqualified the issue from the November ballot.

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In another strategic move, the American Civil Liberties Union and Basic Rights Oregon have appealed the certified ballot title for IP 146 - an initiative petition to repeal the Oregon Family Fairness Act, which provides a panoply of rights and responsibilities to committed same-sex couples - to the Oregon Supreme Court.  Continue Reading »

More than 65 restaurants around the state—some in Bend, Salem, Eugene, Corvallis, Ashland and Astoria—will donate 15 percent of their day’s gross proceeds to Basic Rights Oregon for “Bites for Rights.”

This 9th annual event encourages Oregonians to “put their money where their mouth is” and support fair-minded businesses by dining out at participating restaurants, coffee shops, delicatessens, bars, and night clubs on Thursday, June, 19.

For lists of participating establishments, click here.

Basic Rights Oregon has just learned that the California State Supreme Court has ruled this morning that laws excluding gay and lesbian couples from the right to marry are unconstitutional.

Today’s historic decision in California is a victory for all Americans who cherish fairness and opportunity. While the ruling has no legal impact on Oregonians, we are encouraged by the societal change this represents. This country is steadily moving in the direction of recognizing that every committed couple in a trusting and loving relationship deserves dignity and equal treatment under the law.

California’s High Court did its job today by ensuring that all Californians are treated fairly and equally under the law. Basic Rights Oregon continues to work for a day when all Oregonians are treated just the same under Oregon law.

All eyes are on Oregon as we cast our ballots in the May 20th presidential Primary. (Don’t forget to mail your ballot by Friday, or else you’ll want to drop it off at an official ballot drop site.)

Meanwhile, we’ve told you about dozens of local candidates who deserve your vote. The Basic Rights Equality PAC supports local and statewide candidates who will make a real difference for lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender Oregonians - and whose races could be decided by just a few hundred votes.

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Basic Rights Oregon executive director Jeana Frazzini said today she was not surprised to learn that anti-gay interests have filed initiatives to Continue Reading »

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.

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Hundreds of Oregonians Gather in Seven Cities Across the State to Demonstrate Support, and Urgent Need, for Domestic Partnership Rights

Candlelight vigils were held in seven cities across Oregon tonight, the same day that Oregon’s domestic partnership law for committed, caring couples should have gone into effect. Vigils were held Portland, Eugene, Pendleton, Salem, Bend, Ashland, and Corvallis.

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