Domestic partnership certificates issued in Nevada

(Associated Press) - Nevada's secretary of state issued domestic partnership certificate No. 1 at the state Capitol on Thursday as a state law providing many of the same legal rights as marriage to gay and straight partners went into effect.

The first couple to be issued the certificate — Lee Cagley and Larry Davis — shared tears and laughter and were congratulated by Secretary of State Ross Miller.

"This gives us the legal rights to act for each other's benefit," said Davis, a funeral home director. "It's a wonderful privilege and we're grateful."

While Nevada's constitution bans same-sex marriage, the domestic partnership law extends rights similar to those held by married couples — including community property and the right to seek financial support after a breakup — to cohabitating couples.

Read the rest here
Or here: http://tinyurl.com/yawr6jy

Oregon Governor signs Domestic Partnerships into Law

Capping 30 years of work, Gov. Ted Kulongoski signs legislation that will recognize same-sex unions as domestic partnerships and ban discrimination against gays and lesbians.

OREGON LEGISLATURE APPROVES DOMESTIC PARTNERSHIPS

Domestic Partnerships have passed the Oregon Senate 21-9. All hurdles have been crossed in the Oregon legislature and are now on their way to be signed by Governor Kulongoski who has pledged to sign not only the Domestic Partnership bill (House Bill 2007), but the Statewide Anti-Discrimination bill (Senate Bill 2).

Read more at: http://www.basicrights.org/news/newsitem.asp?ID=235

Oregon House Passes Two Historic Bills for Basic Fairness and Equality

More details on historic legislation in Oregon...

Basic Rights Oregon
4/17/2007
House Bill 2007 passes 34-26, Senate Bill 2 Passes 35-25; Both Bills Receive Bi-Partisan Support

(Salem, Oregon) Today, after nearly 4 hours of debate on the House floor, both The Oregon Family Fairness Act (House Bill 2007) and The Oregon Equality Act (Senate Bill 2) passed the Oregon House with bipartisan support.

Senate Bill 2 will ban discrimination based on sexual orientation and gender identity in areas such as employment, housing, public accommodation and public education.

House Bill 2007 will create a new statute in Oregon law, separate from Oregon's marriage statutes, to provide same-sex couples with Domestic Partnerships. These Domestic Partnerships provide Oregon's same-sex couples and their families with many of the basic protections, rights, and responsibilities under state law, currently only afforded through a marriage contract. It differs substantially from marriage in several ways – including that the protections of Domestic Partnerships are not portable outside the boundaries of Oregon.

Click here to read the rest.

Oregon House Passes Domestice Partnerships Bill

Basic Rights Oregon

Literally moments ago, the Oregon House passed House Bill 2007, creating domestic partnerships with over 500 rights, protections and responsibilities for GLBT families. It passed with bipartisan support – 34 Yes to 26 No. This is a historic day.

Click here for more info.