Elections matter, part 14.
Kari Chisholm
Yesterday, the Oregon House passed two bills that will reduce discrimination in Oregon.
A friend of mine sent me this email:
This morning the Oregon legislature passed two bills that have been a top priority this session. SB 2 is one of the broadest antidiscrimination bills anywhere in the country, and it will ensure that gay folks don't lose their jobs or their housing just because they are gay. HB 2007 establishes domestic partnerships in Oregon, giving gay couples the exact same rights as married straight people.This is pretty cool reminder of the real-world importance of WINNING. Both of these bills had the votes to pass in 2005, but the Republican leadership refused to allow them a vote on the floor. In Oregon, Democrats now control the legislature, we control the discourse, and we made equal rights a priority. Now, after the governor signs these bills (and he will), there will be a lot more justice to go around.
That is cool.
Yup. Elections matter.
When Democrats win, good things happen. When Republicans win, they don't.
So, for everything you did to help win back the Oregon House in 2006, thank you. All of you.
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connect with blueoregon
Apr 18, '07
Now that crossdressers will be able to come out of thier closets, I'm looking forward to seeing bearded lady schoolbus drivers and teachers. Adult entertainment with no cover charge!
2:21 p.m.
Apr 18, '07
Exactly. Vote for Democrats and vote to solve real problems for real people. Vote for Republicans and vote for demogoguing and bullshit. Could the choice be any more clear?
Apr 18, '07
Funny how things seem to get better in our state when we aren't bogged down in fighting corporate special interests and conservative lobby groups isn't it?
Most of what has been passed this session are common sense measures, things most Oregonians can get behind. It really doesn't matter what party affiliation you have, most Oregonians want a better Oregon. Thats obviously what happens when Democrats are in office.
Andrew
Apr 18, '07
Hi Folks....
Phil....great post! Because thiese bills protect hetero relationships as well, you can now safely indulge your deep-seated desire to date that bearded lady bus driver so long as you are both consenting adults. Unfortunately you still can't date your sister who looks like a dog or your sister's dog....sorry I can never remember which since you've posted so much inane twaddle on this issue over the past few months.
Regards
2:45 p.m.
Apr 18, '07
one other aspect to elections mattering: every election matters. 2006 was great, but 2008 will be even more important. we have to strengthen the majority, replace non-progressive Dems with progressives and, in the case of this great legislation, probably defeat a ballot measure to overturn them (anyone doesn't think that's not going to get organized in the next week or so?)
winning an election is a temporary victory. life goes on, and so does the struggle. the Election of 2008 is already in progress.
Apr 18, '07
"Hi Folks....Phil....great post! Because thiese bills protect hetero relationships as well, you can now safely indulge your deep-seated desire to date that bearded lady bus driver so long as you are both consenting adults. Unfortunately you still can't date your sister who looks like a dog or your sister's dog....sorry I can never remember which since you've posted so much inane twaddle on this issue over the past few months."
I was going to respond to Phil's commentary, but frankly, my thunder has been stolen by another muse's. I could not have said better.
Apr 18, '07
Pat Hayes,
You haven't seen my sister. She's hot. We're gonna git us a domestic partnership. You can have the bearded lady. Or you can be the bearded lady, your choice.
4:48 p.m.
Apr 18, '07
Well, it gives equal rights at the state level. Does nothing on the Federal level. A good step in the right direction, but far from the promised land where everyone is treated equally under the law.
4:53 p.m.
Apr 18, '07
BTW, it seems the Senate is set to vote on SB2 and HB2007 tomorrow, so by Friday it should be in the Governor's desk for signing (which he is indicating he will).
Apr 18, '07
Somebody remind me again what rights come with a domestic partnership?
Apr 18, '07
lestatdelc's comment is very important. There is the whole political victory thing, and then there is the practical reality for people (like me family) who really needs all the privileges afforded married couples. I will not get Social Security survivor benefits when my partner, our primary breadwinner, passes. I do not know what I will do. :( Oregon benefits will be won, but the Federal benefits we need are still for others and not for us.
6:54 p.m.
Apr 18, '07
You know, Phil, that "bearded lady" schtick probably plays really well in the highly intellectual environs you normally frequent. Here, though, where most people understand that gay people are real people with real families, it just makes you look like you stopped maturing in about 7th grade.
7:18 p.m.
Apr 18, '07
stopped maturing in about 7th grade
Sorry, Doretta. That would be third grade. 7th graders are w-a-y more together...
7:22 p.m.
Apr 18, '07
giving gay couples the exact same rights as married straight people.
That's not the case, and that's part of the problem, as good as this legislation may be. It's still half a loaf...and we shouldn't --can't-- pretend this is more than it is.
Apr 18, '07
Isn't it pretty much the whole loaf--as far as Oregon is concerned? The bill says:
Any privilege, immunity, right or benefit granted by statute, administrative or court rule, policy, common law or any other law to an individual because the individual is or was married, or because the individual is or was an in-law in a specified way to another individual, is granted on equivalent terms, substantive and procedural, to an individual because the individual is or was in a domestic partnership or because the individual is or was, based on a domestic partnership, related in a specified way to another individual.
It's got a nice ring to it. It means that in legal terms Oregon will consider a gay couple equal to a straight couple.
What was the goal of HB 2007? Was it to confer equal rights to all couples under Oregon law? If so, I think we have a winner. If the goal was to establish complete equality, of course we fell short. But let's be honest with ourselves about the aggregate legal reality. All legally committed couples have the same rights under Oregon law--but any sort of equality in federal law is still over the horizon.
We just hit a grand slam, but we were down five runs. Less talk, more rally cap.
The Oregon legislature cannot change federal law. That sucks, but it's true. I think this ought to be an instance in which the "social laboratory" analogy that we hear so often about federalism is particularly exciting to Oregon progressives: the sky isn't going to fall, people aren't going to marry their dogs, and Democrats in marginal districts are not going to lose their seats in an electoral wave of social conservatism. We have to be leaders nationally because the rest of the US is behind us.
8:27 p.m.
Apr 18, '07
anon, i think you make a good point about federal law and the limitations of anything done in Oregon. however, to continue your metaphor, it's not the bottom of the ninth. i prefer to think it's the bottom of the 4th, and we have a long way to go (and a better bullpen).
i'm one of those nutjobs who thinks the entire institution of legalized marriage needs to go away. every gets a civil union -- under the law, what else should there be? -- and marriage joins baptism and last rites as the religious ceremony it is. if Oregon then has NO marriage, what's the fedes gonna do? first couple goes into Federal Court and argues they are being denied rights under the Constitution, the whole thing is gonna be a mess. so lets defeat the ballot measure next year, and then move on to secularizing marriage and really move to equal rights for all.
Apr 18, '07
Just to clarify some information above - The Senate will be voting on SB 2 tomorrow. HB2007 still needs a hearing in the Senate and then a vote on the floor before it is sent to the Governor's desk. SB 2 has already been passed by the Senate once, but due to the House ammending the religious exepmtion part of the bill, it needs a concurrence vote in the Senate.
Apr 18, '07
In case anyone still doubts that elections matter...
Part 15... In Reversal, Justices Back Ban on Method of Abortion "The most important vote was that of the newest justice, Samuel A. Alito Jr. In another 5-to-4 decision seven years ago, his predecessor, Justice Sandra Day O’Connor, voted to strike down a similar state law. Justice Alito’s vote to uphold the federal law made the difference in the outcome announced Wednesday."
Apr 18, '07
The most important vote was that of the newest justice, Samuel A. Alito Jr
Flippin' Nader screws us again.
Apr 19, '07
It's all well and good to blame Nader for Bush's election - but let's not forget that Democratic Senators had the power to filibuster the Alito nomination and chose not to use it. So this is equally a result of their cowardice.
11:27 a.m.
Apr 19, '07