Lavender Womyn Lesbian Group Blog

Patrick's Story

via secure.ga4.org

I'm writing to you on behalf of Basic Rights Oregon.  It's been close to a year since the death of my partner, Christopher, and I still have trouble talking about what happened to us.

We were in the emergency room and he was unconscious, breathing only with the help of a ventilator. Soon after, I was kicked out of his hospital room — just at the moment when he needed me the most.

"Only family is allowed in the hospital room," said the nurse repeatedly.

Don't let this happen again - join the education campaign with your donation!

If Christopher and I had been legally married, nobody would have questioned our relationship, or our commitment to one another.

Shortly before Christopher died, Basic Rights Oregon helped us tell our story to the media to shine a light on the inadequacies of the state's domestic partnership law.

Join us with your generous support so that no one is ever shut out of being with the one that they love.

I'm asking you to help me raise $6,500 for Basic Rights Oregon by March 5^th!

Your donation will allow us to educate the public about why marriage matters, placing dedicated staff on the ground across the state to share real stories of real people.

Help Basic Rights Oregon reach their goal of $6,500 click here to make your much-needed contribution today!

Thank you so much for your help in making a real difference in the lives of the people that means the most to you.

Sincerely,

Patrick Halloran

BASIC RIGHTS OREGON - What's Your Love Story?

Last fall, Basic Rights Education Fund kicked off our campaign to build public support for the freedom to marry, and our groundbreaking Marriage Matters to Me video project. Since then, we've been traveling the state, asking Oregonians: what's your love story and why does marriage matter to you?

The response has been overwhelming. Hundreds of Oregonians from Bend to Grants Pass to Lincoln City have recorded videos, telling their friends, family, neighbors and coworkers why marriage matters to them. They're telling love stories and reaching out in their communities to open hearts, change minds, and build support for the freedom to marry.

And that work can't wait. It starts right now, today.

Oregon House Passes Adjustments to Domestic Partnership Law

From Basic Rights Oregon...

The Oregon House today passed legislation adjusting several technical provisions of Oregon's domestic partnership system.

In 2007, Oregon created domestic partnerships which establish limited protections and responsibilities for caring and committed same-sex couples. These include taking bereavement leave, sharing joint health insurance, and inheriting the estate of a spouse.

"Oregon's domestic partnership system creates a patchwork of protections for committed same-sex couples," said Jeana Frazzini, Executive Director of Basic Rights Oregon. "The Legislature is doing everything in its power to strengthen this patchwork under the confines of Measure 36. But ultimately, only marriage equality will ensure that same-sex couples are able to care for each other in times of need."

House Bill 2839 has three provisions. The first creates a uniform and streamlined process for domestic partners seeking a name change, updating this process to reflect changes made for married couples in 2007. The second provision eliminates unintended consequences and clears up confusion for same-sex couples whose relationships are recognized as civil unions or marriages in other states. Finally, the legislation preserves a long-standing state practice related to taxation on employer-provided partner health care.

The bill passed the Oregon House by a vote of 51 to 8 and moves to the state Senate for consideration.