Gay rights law to take effect in Oregon

SALEM, ORE. — Opponents of Oregon’s new same-sex domestic partnership law failed to turn in enough valid signatures to block the measure and put it on a state ballot, clearing the way for it to take effect next year, state elections officials said Monday.

Oregon will join eight other states -- California, Connecticut, Hawaii, Maine, New Hampshire, New Jersey, Vermont and Washington -- that have approved partnership rights in some form for same-sex couples. Massachusetts allows same-sex couples to marry. The Oregon measure includes benefits related to inheritance rights; child rearing and custody; joint state tax filings; joint health, auto and homeowners insurance policies; and hospital visitation rights. The law does not affect federal benefits for married couples, including Social Security and joint filing of federal tax returns.