Oregon Legislature Enacts LGBT Rights Bill

The Oregon Senate passed the Oregon Equality Act by a vote of 19-7 today, sending it to Governor Ted Kulongoski who has said that he will sign it into law. Senate Bill 2 would prohibit discrimination in employment, housing and public accomodations on the basis of sexual orientation and gender identity. The Oregon House passed the bill by a vote of 35-25 on Tuesday April 17. The National Gay and Lesbian Task Force issued a press release congratulating Oregon on becoming the 17th state to enact a "gay rights law":

When the law goes into effect, an estimated 48.5 percent of the U.S. population will be protected from employment discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation, and 34 percent — more than one-third — will be protected on the basis of gender identity and expression.

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The National Gay and Lesbian Task Force, Inc., has been a longtime partner of Basic Rights Oregon, the statewide lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) rights group. For more than a decade, the Task Force has provided ongoing strategic advice and training to Basic Rights Oregon staff and more than 100 leaders from across the state.

Congratulations, friendly neighborhood state to our North!