Progress in Oregon (Updated-Progress Delayed)

The state of Oregon has passed laws legalizing domestic partnerships and protecting GLBT against discrimination, both of which will go into effect on Tuesday.

This article from the Salem, OR StatesmanJournal goes into more detail and, for your Oregonians, has links to the official state sites explaining more about the domestic partnership law and how to apply for it. To put it in football terms, this is not yet a touchdown but does move the ball well down the field.

Salem pastor Don Frueh and his partner, Robert Barzler, already have sealed
their union as a couple on their own terms. They conducted a ceremonial blessing
of their home when they bought a house together 3 1/2 years ago, and jokingly
refer to themselves as "Robald Fruzler," a joint moniker that blends their names
and hairstyles.

Next month, Frueh and Barzler intend to legally formalize their eight-year
relationship by
entering into a domestic partnership.

The Oregon Legislature enacted a domestic partnership law in 2007, along
with a companion measure barring discrimination against gays, lesbians,
bisexuals and transgendered people. The two laws take effect in January, marking
a historic breakthrough for Oregon's gay-rights movement.

Frueh, associate pastor at First Congregational United Church of Christ in
Salem, has conducted past ceremonies to sanctify unions of same-sex couples in
the congregation. But those didn't bring any legal recognition.

When Frueh, Barzler and other same-sex couples enter into a contractual
domestic partnership, they'll gain most of the benefits accorded to married
couples under state law.

This report from PageOneQ tells us that a federal judge placed this law on hold pending a hearing on the petition that aims to put this issue on the ballot as a referendum.