Montana Votes Down Gay Rights Bills

Bills introduced to the Montana legislature that were supported by gay rights advocates this season have been killed. One would have established a statewide next-of-kin registry. Another would have prohibited bullying based on many characteristics, including race, color, religion, and ancestry, as well as sexual orientation.

It’s unfortunate that these bills died, although I suppose it is understandable given that last November two thirds of Montana voters approved a constitutional amendment defining marriage as only between a man and a woman. A civil unions measure never made it out of committee.

With marriage or civil unions killed for gay couples, it is truly unfortunate that the “next-of-kin” bill died. This bill would have added powerful protections for gay couples in the absence of marriage or civil unions such as hospital visitation, medical decisions, and receipt of the body after death.

These life and death decisions have more to do with common decency and less to do with sexual orientation.

The Montana legislature voted down several bills supported by gay rights advocates this session. Though none survived, Democratic senator Ken Tootle said gay rights made the largest advance yet with three measures passing the senate before dying in the house.

Those measures would have established a statewide next-of-kin registry, added protection for gays to the Montana Human Rights Act, and implemented a statewide antibullying policy for schools. The political tide is slowly turning, Toole said. “We understand this to be a 15- to 20-year process,” he said. “All civil rights issues traditionally have taken a long time.” [...]

The bill to create a next-of-kin registry failed as well. The measure would have created a statewide registry where any Montana resident could designate his or her legal next of kin for the purposes of hospital visitation, medical decisions, and receipt of the body after death. Gay rights advocates frequently voice concerns that gays and lesbians are not allowed to visit their partners in hospitals or make important end-of-life decisions. (AP) (source)