It's been quite a debacle, but last year, Oregon gained on Washington in the diversity column by announcing, come the New Year, same sex couples could enjoy full domestic partnerships. Starting today, gay folks in Oregon get access to 500 rights, like making health care decisions, suing for wrongful death, being buried next to their partner, accessing their partner's death certificate, and obtaining "personal effects from their deceased partner's body."

It's absurd that there are laws in place barring gay couples from such rights, and that new laws have to be enacted to grant these rights. But, then there are also what we consider perks of "marriage," like not having to pay a fee for being the additional driver on your partner's rental car, which Oregonians can now access, as well. According to the Corvallis Gazette-Times:

Originally, the Oregon law allowing domestic partnership registry was supposed to take effect Jan. 1, but a judge’s decision delayed the inactment of the law. Many couples learned late Friday afternoon that the judge had ruled to allow the registry to go forward, and some couples adjusted their work schedules in order to fill out paperwork for the registry Monday morning.

photo courtesy Seattlest Flickr pool user faust0matic