This is bullshit! This should have been left up to the voters of oregon. No way gays should be aloud legally to be recognized as a couple. Anyone remember measure 36 in 2004 we passed that really quick .

This is bullshit! This should have been left up to the voters of oregon. No way gays should be aloud legally to be recognized as a couple. Anyone remember measure 36 in 2004 we shot that down really fast. We as voters should have the right to shoot this down too.

Yes, this is a positive step, but like so many others, I do wonder when all unions will be truly equal. Shouldn’t all citizens be treated equally?

This may look good on the surface, but what bothers me is that this whole separation between “civil unions” and “marriages” reminds me of a little something that was going on in this country last century ... what was it called? ... oh, yeah: “racial segregation.”

You know ... they are “separate but equal.” Is that what this is? Different but equal?

—Ava

I wait for the day when the term LEGALLY MARRIED is meaningless.

The LEGAL part should be 100% CIVIL - acknowledged, licensed and certified BY THE STATE as a spousal partnership with all the privileges and responsibilities attendant to such a legal contract. There should be NO DISCRIMINATION allowed - the partners’ sex and/or sexual orientation completely irrelevant to the contract. If you and your partner want to be recognized LEGALLY as a couple, then you must be hitched under a CIVIL UNION statute. Gay or straight the only way to be “legal” is through a civil union.

The MARRIAGE part should be a 100% “RELIGIOUS” or ceremonial term and have NO STANDING legally for any reason or purpose outside of the particular religion or group involved. If such organizations want to discriminate within their own “cliques” then fine - who cares? If you don’t like the rules, change “cliques”... or set up your own. You may want your relationship “blessed” as a marriage by a religion and you may do so WITHOUT entering into a civil union, but you will NOT be recognized for any CIVIL or LEGAL purpose as a “couple” - eg for income tax, inheritance, ownership of anything, etc. Until you enter into a CIVIL UNION you will be considered either as two single individuals, or “commonlaw” where it applies, even if you’ve lived together for 100 years!

Only when the SAME rules apply to ALL persons will I consider the issue settled equitably.