Gay Civil Unions Bills Advancing In Oregon & Washington

Bills that either legalize or come very close to legality for Gay civil unions are advancing in both the Oregon and Washington legislatures. While most states have unfortunately voted for constitutional bans on Gay marriage, these civil union or domestic partnership bills do provide many of the same benefits that a marriage has. With Democratic majorities in state legislatures and Democratic governors in both states, both the Oregon and Washington bills are likely to become law unless right wing groups put the issues on the state ballots. In both states, some efforts to allow for exceptions for religious organizations is being allowed to help lower the opposition to the bills.