Gay Rights Watch

Then and now. What do you think Oregon? Who do you believe? When Oregon's "Defense of Marriage Coalition" was seeking a Yes vote from Oregon Voters on Measure 36, the DOMC was clear that the vote was not about civil unions, and even suggested it would be open to civil union legislation to provide same-sex couples with the benefits of marriage. What they said then:

“Same-sex couples should seek marriage-like rights through another avenue, such as civil unions.”
- Tim Nashif, Oregon Family Council Director and an organizer of the Measure 36 campaign Bend Bulletin 8/20/2004

[Now Tim Nashif and his organization are now fighting very hard against civil unions - what's the story?]

"If same-sex couples need legal protection, they should consult their legislative representatives. If they need legislation to do that, no one is going to stand in their way.” -Defense of Marriage Coalition Executive Director Mike White, Lincoln City News Guard 11/10/2004

[That is exactly what we are trying to do via the legislature with SB1000. So why are they "standing in our way"?]

“Gay and lesbian couples are free to pursue marriage-like rights via a different avenue, such as civil unions that have been approved in Vermont.”
- Defense of Marriage Coalition Spokesperson Georgene Rice, Deschutes County Bulletin 9/30/2004

[Again, that is exactly what we are trying to do via the legislature with SB1000. Why did they lie to the Oregonians?]

“The notion that civil unions by definition would be unequal is without merit because civil unions become what you make them.”
- Defense of Marriage Coalition Spokesperson Georgene Rice, Oregon Public Broadcasting 10/2004

“The coalition set out to defend marriage, and now we have an amendment that does that.”
- Tim Nashif, Oregon Family Council Director and an organizer of the Measure 36 campaign AP 11/22/2004

“Oregon’s measure was written specifically not to address civil unions.”
- Tim Nashif, Oregon Family Council Director and an organizer of the Measure 36 campaign Bend Bulletin. 11/6/2004

But, now that measure 36 has passed, the same groups are saying something very different. These people are FULL of lies and deceit. This is what they are saying now:

"We would be against any measure that takes all the benefits of marriage and then calls it something else. We don't think Oregonians had that in mind when they passed Measure 36." - Tim Nashif, Oregon Family Council Director and an organizer of the Measure 36 campaign Bend Bulletin 4/15 2005

"This is gay marriage in disguise. Kulongoski and his fellow Democrats trying to force their radical agenda on Oregonians."
- Representative Jeff Kropf Register Guard 4/14/2005

“SB 1000 takes everything that marriage is and calls it civil unions."
- Tim Nashif, Oregon Family Council Director and an organizer of the Measure 36 campaign The Statesman Journal 4/17/2005

"The provisions of SB 1000 are a direct affront to the vote of the people on Measure 36.”
- Rep. Dennis Richardson The Statesman Journal 4/17/2005

“First, marriage was never intended as a means to access rights. I believe that degrades the institution. The rights and benefits associated with marriage are a byproduct, designed to recognize and encourage the contribution and strength traditional families make to society.”
- Tim Nashif, Oregon Family Council Director and an organizer of the Measure 36 campaign Oregonian 4/17/2005

“If civil union status is granted, there will be no turning back. The liberals and homosexual-lesbian coalition will have won and the people’s vote in favor of traditional marriage will have been effectively nullified.”
- Representative Dennis Richardson In an e-mail to other House Republicans

“Please understand there is no greater threat to marriage right now than civil unions.”
- Oregon Family Council Communications Director Nick Graham In a letter to supporters 4/26/05

Am I the only one who sees the contradictory statements here? Oregon voters were misled during the Measure 36 campaign... and these right wing fucks who proclaim to be "oh so holy" are nothing but liars. So that's that - facts are facts. Do Oregonians truly believe these people?

The DOMC has hired a lobbyist in Salem to fight SB 1000 - the bill that would grant civil unions to same-sex couples. It would also bring a statewide ban on discrimination in the workplace (meaning that you cannot be fired simply for being gay - no different than if you were black for example), Oregonians can be denied service in a bank or restaurant because they're gay, rejected for housing because they're gay and turned down for a job interview -- or even fired -- because they're gay. Is this fair? NO. I don't care how conservative you are - this is NOT right, but it IS real.

Think about this people. Go back and read these disgusting quotes from above. Senate Bill 1000 needs to be passed. Call your Senator today and demand that they support the bill. To find out the contact information for your senators click here.

Then and now. When Oregon’s “Defense of Marriage Coalition” was seeking a Yes vote from Oregon Voters on Measure 36, the DOMC was clear that the vote was not about civil unions, and even suggested it would be open to civil union legislation to provide same-sex couples with the benefits of marriage. What they said then:

“Same-sex couples should seek marriage-like rights through another avenue, such as civil unions.”
- Tim Nashif, Oregon Family Council Director and an organizer of the Measure 36 campaign Bend Bulletin 8/20/2004

[Now Tim Nashif and his organization are now fighting very hard against civil unions - what's the story?]

"If same-sex couples need legal protection, they should consult their legislative representatives. If they need legislation to do that, no one is going to stand in their way.” -Defense of Marriage Coalition Executive Director Mike White, Lincoln City News Guard 11/10/2004

[That is exactly what we are trying to do via the legislature with SB1000. So why are they "standing in our way"?]

“Gay and lesbian couples are free to pursue marriage-like rights via a different avenue, such as civil unions that have been approved in Vermont.”
- Defense of Marriage Coalition Spokesperson Georgene Rice, Deschutes County Bulletin 9/30/2004

[Again, that is exactly what we are trying to do via the legislature with SB1000. Why did they lie to the Oregonians?]

“The notion that civil unions by definition would be unequal is without merit because civil unions become what you make them.”
- Defense of Marriage Coalition Spokesperson Georgene Rice, Oregon Public Broadcasting 10/2004

“The coalition set out to defend marriage, and now we have an amendment that does that.”
- Tim Nashif, Oregon Family Council Director and an organizer of the Measure 36 campaign AP 11/22/2004

“Oregon’s measure was written specifically not to address civil unions.”
- Tim Nashif, Oregon Family Council Director and an organizer of the Measure 36 campaign Bend Bulletin. 11/6/2004

But, now that measure 36 has passed, the same groups are saying something very different. These people are FULL of lies and deceit. This is what they are saying now:

"We would be against any measure that takes all the benefits of marriage and then calls it something else. We don't think Oregonians had that in mind when they passed Measure 36." - Tim Nashif, Oregon Family Council Director and an organizer of the Measure 36 campaign Bend Bulletin 4/15 2005

"This is gay marriage in disguise. Kulongoski and his fellow Democrats trying to force their radical agenda on Oregonians."
- Representative Jeff Kropf Register Guard 4/14/2005

“SB 1000 takes everything that marriage is and calls it civil unions."
- Tim Nashif, Oregon Family Council Director and an organizer of the Measure 36 campaign The Statesman Journal 4/17/2005

"The provisions of SB 1000 are a direct affront to the vote of the people on Measure 36.”
- Rep. Dennis Richardson The Statesman Journal 4/17/2005

“First, marriage was never intended as a means to access rights. I believe that degrades the institution. The rights and benefits associated with marriage are a byproduct, designed to recognize and encourage the contribution and strength traditional families make to society.”
- Tim Nashif, Oregon Family Council Director and an organizer of the Measure 36 campaign Oregonian 4/17/2005

“If civil union status is granted, there will be no turning back. The liberals and homosexual-lesbian coalition will have won and the people’s vote in favor of traditional marriage will have been effectively nullified.”
- Representative Dennis Richardson In an e-mail to other House Republicans

“Please understand there is no greater threat to marriage right now than civil unions.”
- Oregon Family Council Communications Director Nick Graham In a letter to supporters 4/26/05

Am I the only one who sees the contradictory statements here? Oregon voters were misled during the Measure 36 campaign... and these right wing fucks who proclaim to be "oh so holy" are nothing but liars. So that's that - facts are facts. Do Oregonians truly believe these people?

The DOMC has hired a lobbyist in Salem to fight SB 1000 - the bill that would grant civil unions to same-sex couples. It would also bring a statewide ban on discrimination in the workplace (meaning that you cannot be fired simply for being gay - no different than if you were black for example), Oregonians can be denied service in a bank or restaurant because they're gay, rejected for housing because they're gay and turned down for a job interview -- or even fired -- because they're gay. Is this fair? NO. I don't care how conservative you are - this is NOT right, but it IS real.

Think about this people. Go back and read these disgusting quotes from above. Senate Bill 1000 needs to be passed. Call your Senator today and demand that they support the bill. To find out the contact information for your senators click here.

Hey all - just a heads up to those of you who haven't heard about the huge party tonight at Crush in SE Portland. They are almost tripling in size and this is the - get ready.... "Grand Re-Opening Pre-Party". The new space is amazing and a must see. Crush has opened their doors to us as a benefit for the Basic Rights Oregon EqualityPAC. It's $10 if you buy before tonight - $15 at the door. 50% of the bar is also going to be donated by Crush directly to the EqualityPAC. If you would like your name on the list to save that extra $10 please click here to buy in advance.

Crush is located on SE 14th and Morrison. Party starts at 8pm this evening!

For more info about Crush please visit:
http://www.crushbar.com/

Gay Rights Leader Says Falwell, Others Have 'Blood' on Hands.

A prominent gay rights activist has said conservative Christian leaders such as the Rev. Jerry Falwell and James Dobson have "blood" on their hands after a new report showed increased violence against homosexuals.

"The literal blood of the thousands of gay people physically wounded by hate during 2004 is on the hands of Jerry Falwell, James Dobson, Tony Perkins and so many others who spew hate for partisan gain and personal enrichment," said Matt Foreman, executive director of the National Gay and Lesbian Task Force.

He issued the statement Tuesday (April 26) in response to a report by the National Coalition of Anti-Violence Programs that showed a 4 percent increase in crimes against gays and lesbians from 2003 to 2004.

Falwell, the chancellor of Liberty University in Lynchburg, Va., joined Family Research Council President Tony Perkins and Focus on the Family chairman James Dobson in a "Mayday for Marriage" rally on the National Mall last October that opposed same-sex marriage.

Ron Godwin, president of Jerry Falwell Ministries, called Foreman's words a "false representation" of the biblical convictions held by Falwell and other leaders.

"This is another example of hate speech about so-called hate speech," he said. "Dr. Falwell and Dr. Dobson and these other men of faith who express clear convictions about their faith are doing this and have been doing this, probably since before this young man was born, with no intent whatsoever to personally offend any particular individual."

Perkins and Dobson could not be reached immediately for comment.

On Tuesday, the National Coalition of Anti-Violence Programs released its annual report on violence against lesbians, gay men, bisexual people and transgender individuals. It found that reported violence against these groups of people increased by 4 percent, from 1,720 incidents in 2003 to 1,792 in 2004. It found that the number of murders increased 11 percent from 2003 to 2004, from 18 to 20.

The report is based on data compiled in 11 cities, states and regions across the country and drawn from victim service organizations that work with gays and lesbians.

Gov. Ted Kulongoski told representatives from Oregon's businesses on Wednesday he's prepared to fight "for as long as it takes" to pass legislation that will provide and protect rights for gays and lesbians.

He also criticized the Legislature for not yet acting to ensure gay-rights legislation is passed this session.

Kulongoski spoke at the annual fund-raiser lunch for Basic Rights Oregon, a non-profit group that works for gay rights issues. Many among the 500 people at the lunch represent Oregon businesses, including Nike, Powell's Books, eROI, Portland General Electric. and Standard Insurance

Kulongoski told them all committed couples need to be respected equally, and called on lawmakers who say they support such equality to start working on legislation.

"Now is the time for the Legislature to stop clapping and start acting," he said.

Kulongoski wants lawmakers to pass a Senate Bill he introduced that would grant the rights of marriage to gay and lesbian couples through civil unions and would make discrimination based on sexual preference illegal.

He said it would be "morally unacceptable" not to pass the bill, and said the legislation is needed because sexual descrimination still exists in Oregon.

While those at the event praised Kulongoski, Tim Nashif of the Defense of Marriage Coalition criticized Kulongoski's Senate bill as an attempt to "basically gut marriage."

Nashif's group supports "reciprocal benefits," which would grant selected rights to all sorts of family groups, including two brothers living together or two friends. A bill will be introduced soon to provide for reciprocal benefits. (TO LEARN HOW RECIPROCAL BENEFITS UNDERMINE TRUE EQUALITY CLICK HERE)

Nashif said the group is opposed to Kulongoski's bill because it grants all the rights of marriage to gay couples and also give gays "minority status."

Kulongoski, however, said the recent Supreme Court ruling that cancelled 3,000 marriage licenses issued to gay and lesbian couples by Multnomah County "clearly left the door open for the Legislature to create civil unions."

"This is an opportunity they must not miss," he said.

Kulongoski's remarks were met with applause and a standing ovation.

"It feels good to be in a state where the governor has taken that kind of leadership," said Kregg Arntson, a spokesman for Portland General Electric who attended the event.

The governor was praised by Basic Rights Oregon for his long-running support of gay rights.

"Nowhere else has a governor stepped up to take leadership in a way that this governor has," said Roey Thorpe, executive director of Basic Rights Oregon.

Posting from: The Basic Rights Oregon Blog.

Today I attended the Basic Rights Oregon luncheon. Gov. Kulongoski was the keynote speaker. I've always been a bit shaky about him - although he certainly talked the talk today... and is walking to walk by leading the charge for SB1000. To read the full speech he delivered, click here. I was very impressed. So anyway. The gay community has a tough fight ahead of us. You would think that civil unions would be much easier to get through than marriage though it won't be easy. The radical right wing extremists that led the hateful Yes on 36 campaign are fighting us on our civil unions bill. Throughout the Measure 36 campaign the Yes side had said that if it gets passed - they would still leave it open for us to at least have civil unions. Yeah - NOT THE CASE. More details to come on that. They are aligning themselves with crazy extremists to keep us down. We need to fight back - and fight back harder than ever. We cannot let Oregon be an unequal, unfair place to live for so many families and individuals. To write a letter to your Senator urging them to support SB1000 please click here. There are letters there to help you write them. Be original though. Make it personal so that we can get the most impact.

Okay, something we need to know today: Why was Ralph Reed, the former head of the Christian Coalition, on Microsoft's payroll for several years earning $20K a month? (Not a bad haul, not by a long shot.) And what, if anything, does Reed's work for Microsoft have to do with the company deciding not to come out in support of proposed legislation in Washington state that would ban discrimination against gays and lesbians?

What on earth has Reed been doing for Microsoft, one of the world's most powerful companies - a company with vast resources and great talent? The software giant's antitrust imbroglio is over except for ongoing suits in various states. The company is openly supportive of gay causes, committed to diversity, and has been proactive in creating internal policies that support gay rights. Does it seem just a wee bit incongruous to anyone else?

In fact, Microsoft is often cited as one of the more progressive places to work with family-friendly policies for all employees. Its benefits packages are among the best anywhere. From what we know, the company goes out of its way to support all kinds of families. So what gives?

The Reed affiliation came out as Microsoft catches heat from its own employees and gay rights advocates for not taking a position on the proposed legislation. The gay rights bill failed by just one vote in the state's senate last week. Microsoft remained neutral on the legislation, raising the ire of many gay advocates. The company has come out in support of such legislation in the past.

Today, published reports indicate that because of mounting internal and public pressure, Microsoft Chairman Bill Gates says the company may rethink its decision to stay neutral on the issue. Microsoft needs to know that when it speaks, the world often listens. Perhaps it better put its money where its beliefs lie.

Cowards is the word that comes to mind. All Oregonians should be completely ashamed about the outright attacks on fellow Oregon families... On your neighbors, on your friends and even on your own family members. What sort of state are we living in? It needs to stop. Stand up and fight.

We've had our share of hateful ballot measures. Measure 9 (x2) was bad. Though we as a society were able to see through the hate of the last Measure 9 campaign and it was defeated. Measure 36 is another story. That was a huge blow. It was hateful and our state should be completely ashamed and appalled. No doubt that our movement is all about time. Time IS on our side. My question is do you want full equality in less than 5 years - or are we going to sit around and do nothing but bitch for the next 20 years?

This past week, Roey Thorpe, the Executive Director of Basic Rights Oregon released a statement that to me seemed a bit more biting than normal. I liked it. Before you continue on, are you doing your part, with the current momentum, to help make progress for gays and lesbians? After all we are your neighbors, your brother, your sister - your child. Think about these things when considering passing hateful legislation against us. It's going to come back and bite you in the ass down the road if you don't stand up for human dignity. Here is the statement from BRO.

The Fungus Factor: Something Stinks in Oregon

It’s been a hard week for all of us at BRO staff and supporters alike. It would have been wonderful to have the time to celebrate the leadership that Governor Kulongoski is showing by endorsing Senate Bill 1000, and to thank the bipartisan sponsors of the bill. But that was not to be. Instead, we were faced with a court decision that declared that the marriages of over 3,000 same sex couples were now declared null and void. It was heartbreaking and many people called and emailed us, crushed at the news.

That would have been hard enough, but the decision seems to have encouraged the expression of some of the most vile and nasty feelings about GLBT people. Without shame, people have been unleashing their hate and fear, openly declaring that we are dangerous predators, obsessively promiscuous, and biologically defective. These are not only outrageous lies, but the expression of them is hateful and cruel. As if we weren’t in enough pain, we now have to figure out how to keep going and hold our heads up when we are being attacked, dehumanized, and lied about everywhere we turn.

There seems to be no end to the outright lies and blaming GLBT people for the attack on us from the Defense of Marriage Coalition and Oregon Family Council. Never mind that Measure 36 was filed before the Multnomah County marriages the DOMC says they were forced by the county commissioners to introduce a ballot measure. Never mind that SB 1000 has nothing to do with educational curriculum the Oregon Family Council says we’ll be teaching gay sex in elementary schools. Never mind that all through the campaign, the DOMC said they only cared about marriage now they have hired a lobbyist to oppose civil unions and any non-discrimination bill.

Why is this hatred surfacing now? Why, after so many years, does it seem like the nastiness of the 1992 No on 9 campaign is back? Lots of reasons, probably. Measure 36 passed, and that has enabled the DOMC to claim they have a mandate, as though the measure was not about marriage, but about gay people generally. A new group of right wing extremists has emerged, and the power is going to their heads. But there’s another reason, too, which I think of as the Fungus Factor.

The Fungus Factor goes like this: prejudice is like a fungus. It grows in dark, cold places, which means it is often hidden from view. In air and direct light, it dies. The work that all of us have been engaging in is that light and airwe are bringing up issues, we are telling the truth about our lives. Prejudice can’t survive the blinding light of truth.

But let’s not forget that before the fungus dies, it smells really bad. In fact, it stinks. And I think that what is happening right now is the smell of something pretty long-festering and disgusting hitting the air. Many of us probably thought it was not so bad here in Oregon, that time and several ballot measure campaigns had killed it off. Unfortunately, that’s not the case.

It would be tempting to shut the door on it and run away fast. But we can’t do that, as painful and unpleasant as this experience is. There are a lot of people who would like to believe, as Tim Nashif of the DOMC keeps saying, that there is no discrimination against GLBT people in Oregon. Others would like to believe that the dehumanization and hatred of people based on their sexual orientation or gender identity is over. Well, you have only to read the letters to the editor in your daily paper to see the terrible truth of how people really feel.

In order to kill off this prejudice, we’re going to have to face it. It’s going to have to smell really bad here in Oregon maybe even worse than it does right now. Either that or we just go back to where we were 18 months ago: silent, complacent, not wanting to rock the boat, even if it meant that we and our families continued to face discrimination without recourse every single day. At BRO, we’re not going back, and we hope that you don’t want to either. It is really hard right now, and it will continue to be. The good news is that it is getting harder for middle-of-the-road people to deny that prejudice exists when it is being spilled all over the media on a daily basis. Believe me, no one is going to be able to ignore this smell, so let’s just keep on getting out there and shining your light on it wherever it lives.

-Roey Thorpe

It's me again. There are those out there in our community that disagree with Basic Rights Oregon on certain strategies. I saw a lot of that during the No on 36 campaign. We need to have faith in BRO as they are doing everything in their power to fight for full equality. BRO is an amazing group of people that are in the same spot as the rest of us as far as their emotion and feelings. Roey Thorpe herself got married to her partner of many years. How do you think she feels right now? We need to have faith. We need to fight - and we need to stand together with Basic Rights Oregon as the fight continues. We need to make our presence known.

To volunteer with Basic Rights Oregon please click here.
To make a donation to Basic Rights Oregon please click here.

Sacramento, CA – Today Assembly Bill (AB) 19: the Religious Freedom and Civil Marriage Protection Act, authored by Assemblymember Mark Leno (D-San Francisco) and Assembly Speaker Fabian Núñez (D-Los Angeles) passed the Assembly Judiciary Committee with a 6-3 vote. AB 19, sponsored by Equality California, ensures equal treatment under the law by allowing same-sex couples to marry in California while continuing to guarantee religious freedom.

“America was founded on the concept of separation of church and state, with the guarantee that religious freedom will be respected and the state will treat all people equally in the eyes of the law,” stated Assemblymember Mark Leno. “AB 19 puts that fundamental right into practice."

“Today is a tremendous day for committed couples and their children who only wish to protect and provide for their families,” said Executive Director Geoffrey Kors of Equality California. “California cannot continue to discriminate against love and commitment. Two loving people who simply want to live their lives together deserve equal treatment under the law."

“California cannot have an honest discussion about civil rights without talking about gay and lesbian rights,” said Alice Huffman, President of the California State Convention of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People. “Both movements have a place in history as the NAACP stands tall with the gay and lesbian community.”

“As a woman of faith and as a spiritual leader, I am committed to strive for justice and to affirm the dignity and equality of every human being as a child of God," said Reverend Bea Chun, pastor of Christ the Good Shepard Lutheran Church in San Jose. "I have come to believe that the question of civil marriage equality is very much a justice issue."

“Our family should be afforded the same rights and responsibilities as any other family,” said Baltimore Gonzalez, EQCA’s Volunteer Chapter Leader in Fresno. “We should not be second class citizens in our own homes.”

AB 19 follows last year's historic vote when the committee became the first in the country to pass a marriage equality bill without a court order. There are now 200 organizations from across all communities in support of marriage equality.

ASSEMBLY JUDICIARY VOTE:

6 AYES: Jones, Evans, Laird, Levine, Lieber and Montañez

3 NOES: Harman, Haynes and Leslie

Founded in 1998, Equality California is a nonprofit, nonpartisan, grassroots-based, statewide advocacy organization whose mission is to ensure the dignity, safety, equality and civil rights of all lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) Californians. Equality California is one of the largest and fastest growing statewide LGBT organizations in the country. Their website is www.eqca.org

Social evolution... It's always been there and it will only continue to move forward. The civil rights movement did not begin or end with the dramatic events of the 1950s and '60s. Since our nation's founding, ordinary citizens have struggled to make America fulfill its promise of equality under the law. Just think back to the struggle that blacks, women, and what every other minority has gone through in the fight for full equality. We still aren't all the way there for those groups mentioned but the progress is huge. The issue of full equality for gays and lesbians in our nation is the issue that will define my generation.

This debate is not going away. It touches too many Americans to be swept under the rug and forgotten about. Over the coming decades, this matter will be resolved, and we will all have to answer to the next generations about the role we played in this struggle. How will you look back on it? What role would you have played?

Though changes are always accompanied with popular unrest and civil friction, our nation has marched steadily towards the philosophy of total equality that our founding fathers left us. We will reach it. It's just a matter of how long will it take.

In our search for this ultimate social truth, we have surpassed our founders' simple understanding of it. To stay true to their message in modern times we ignored their wishes and freed the slaves, gave suffrage to women, and provided citizenship to American Indians. Thomas Jefferson would not have approved of our actions, but we really don't give a damn. Time and experience breed a greater understanding of morality. The prejudices of our founders were wrong, and we are a better nation for shaking them off.

Now it is the GLBT community's turn to claim their rightful place as equals in the American Dream. Would our founding fathers smile upon this? No, but I have no doubt that gays and lesbians will succeed and that the cause of liberty will prosper as a result. It always has and it always will.

There is no real legal argument against gay marriage. Instead, the issue has been fought almost solely from a religious perspective, appealing for the preservation of the "sanctity" of marriage. However, this makes little sense as the "marriage" in contention has nothing to do with religion or the church. It's about the rights and protections that come with that civil contract.

Gays and lesbians are seeking legal marriage and the rights and privileges associated with it. We are not asking for approval from the churches, and such approval is not even the government's to give. If a church decides to preside over a same-sex marriage that is their choice.

Think about this.

Gay and lesbian activists are tearful in Washington state, joyful in Connecticut and angry in Texas after a series of legislative votes that reflect America's tumultuous, seesaw debate over whether to broaden or narrow their rights.

Connecticut, in a historic step last week, became the first state to approve marriage-like civil unions for same-sex couples without the prodding of a court order. However, on the same day the Texas House voted to bar gays from being foster parents; the next day the Washington Senate, by one vote, defeated a major gay civil-rights bill.

In Alabama, meanwhile, lawmakers considered a bill aimed at keeping books tolerant of homosexuality out of public schools. A despondent lesbian activist, Patricia Todd, told a House committee: "I feel you all hate us."

Gay-rights leaders and their opponents tried to depict the contrasting events in a positive light.

"As in any civil rights movement, it's often three steps forward and two steps back," said Joe Solmonese of the Human Rights Campaign, the largest national gay-rights group. "Sometimes, we have all of that movement in the context of one week.''

He was particularly encouraged by the developments in Connecticut, where Republican Gov. M. Jodi Rell signed a civil union bill that reached her desk with bipartisan support.

The only other states to go as far - Vermont with civil unions and Massachusetts with full recognition of same-sex marriage - acted under court orders, enabling opponents of gay rights to blame "activist judges'' for circumventing the people's will. In Connecticut, Solmonese said, "it was an organic product of the legislative process.''

However, Brian Brown of the conservative Family Institute of Connecticut contended that the civil union bill would not have won approval in a popular referendum. He predicted lawmakers of both parties who supported it could face tough challenges in the 2006 election.

"Not a single legislator ran on this issue in 2004," he said. "You can't say this is the democratic process at work until you see the results of the next election."

Brown's group is helping organize a rally Sunday at the state Capitol opposing civil unions. He estimated that 10,000 people might attend.

"You're going to see a new political force in this state that's unlike anything you've seen before," he said.

Matt Foreman, executive director of the National Gay and Lesbian Task Force, said the Connecticut bill showed how quickly the debate over same-sex marriage had evolved.

"Five years ago the concept of civil unions caused a virtual civil war in Vermont," he said, while in Connecticut it was an easy-to-accept option for many politicians not ready to endorse gay marriage.

In contrast to Connecticut, some activists were in tears at Washington's Capitol in Olympia on Thursday as senators - by a 25-24 vote - rejected a House-passed bill banning discrimination against gays and lesbians in housing, employment and insurance. In three decades of trying, it was the closest the bill's supporters had come to victory.

"We have exposed bigotry and prejudice," said Rep. Ed Murray, an openly gay Democrat from Seattle. "We didn't win today, but we will win.''

Also dismaying to activists was approval by the Texas House of Representatives of a proposal to bar gays and lesbians from being foster parents. No other state has such a law in force.

"I don't think it is right for young children to be exposed to this type of behavior when they are young and innocent," said the measure's sponsor, Rep. Robert Talton.

The measure's fate in the Texas Senate is uncertain. National gay-rights groups are mobilizing to seek its defeat, warning that it could cause many hundreds of foster children to be removed from their homes.

"As a parent, I cannot even imagine the horror of a knock at the door and the state ripping our children away from me and my spouse," said Jennifer Crisler of the Family Pride Coalition, a national group advocating on behalf of gay families.

No vote was taken last week on the Alabama bill that prompted Patricia Todd's remark about hate. The measure, which may be voted on this week, would prohibit schools from spending public funds on books or other materials that recognize or promote homosexuality as an acceptable lifestyle.

"This is not about hate," said the sponsor, Rep. Gerald Allen. "This is about our culture being under attack."

Todd disagreed, telling the House Education Committee: "We are your brothers and sisters, your aunts and uncles. We go to church with you. And the message I get from you is: 'We hate you.'"

Overseas developments also elicited mixed emotions. In predominantly Roman Catholic Spain, the lower house of Parliament approved the Socialist government's gay marriage bill. It would make Spain the third European country to legalize same-sex marriages, along with Belgium and the Netherlands.

That vote came two days after the election of the new pope, Benedict XVI, who as a cardinal was the Vatican's leading enforcer of doctrine frowning on homosexual relationships and same-sex unions.

"His record on lesbian/gay issues has been notoriously insensitive," said Francis DiBernardo of New Ways Ministry, a Maryland-based group working to increase acceptance of gays within the Catholic Church. "We hope and pray he will open his ears and his heart to the cries of so many who have been hurt by his previous policies."