Additionally, same-sex couples are allowed to jointly adopt, and discrimination based on sexual orientation and gender identity in the areas of employment, housing and public accommodations is outlawed in the state under the Oregon Equality Act, enacted in 2008.

A 2019 opinion poll conducted by the Public Religion Research Institute showed that 70% of Oregonians supported anti-discrimination legislation protecting LGBTQ people.

[3] During European settlement of Oregon in the late 18th and early 19th centuries, the region was infamous for its "temptation towards immorality", mostly due to its overwhelmingly male population.

In 1913, the Oregon Supreme Court, in State v. Start, held that fellatio (oral sex), whether heterosexual or homosexual, also constituted an offence, and similarly in 1928 that mutual masturbation was also criminal.

The Criminal Law Revision Commission was of the opinion that "any sexual conduct engaged in between consenting adults, whether of a heterosexual or homosexual nature" should not be outlawed.

At the same time, it also passed a controversial "lewd solicitation" provision, making it a criminal offence to invite a person in a public place to have sexual intercourse.

[10] In July 2015, the Oregon Legislative Assembly passed a bill to codify gender-neutral marriage in various state statutes, effective from January 1, 2016.

[11][12] In April 2023, a bill passed both houses of the Oregon Legislative Assembly to allow opposite-sex couples to formally enter into a domestic partnerships.

[15] Since January 1, 2008, Oregon has banned unfair discrimination in employment, housing, and public accommodations based on sexual orientation or gender identity.

[19] In October 2019, Governor Kate Brown signed an executive order to add gender identity to a 1987 policy that prohibits state agencies from engaging in unlawful discrimination (in hiring, the provision of public services, or any government-related interactions).

[21][22] Effective from January 1, 2022, a law (that was overturned by the courts on May 11, 2022[23]) banning real estate agents (buying or selling) from sharing documents that include protected class information that could lead to intentional or unintentional discrimination against clients and/or individuals due to sexual orientation and gender identity grounds - that the Governor of Oregon Kate Brown signed a bill (HB2550) into law in June 2021.

[26][27][28][29][30] In January 2013, as part of an out-of-court settlement in a discrimination suit with a public employee related to medical insurance coverage of a gender assignment surgical procedure, the state agreed to provide full medical insurance coverage for all such surgeries, drugs, and related treatments for individuals covered on public employee health plans.

[32] In addition, in August 2014, state officials announced that Oregon Medicaid would shortly begin covering hormone therapy and other treatments related to sex reassignment.

[14] In May 2017, a bill passed the Oregon Legislative Assembly to abolish the 1991 requirement for transgender people to publish their names in newspapers before they can undergo a legal change of sex on government documents.

[36] In January 2019, Representative Karin Power introduced a bill to amend a 1951 Oregon mental health law that equated "transvestites" with pedophilia.

[37][38][39] In December 2020, the U.S. Supreme Court denied certiorari to Parents for Privacy v. Barr, a case that had challenged a transgender-inclusive policy in public schools.

[51] A 2022 Public Religion Research Institute (PRRI) opinion poll found that 78% of Oregon residents supported same-sex marriage, while 22% were opposed.

Additionally, 86% of Oregon residents supported discrimination protections covering sexual orientation and gender identity, while 13% were opposed and 1% were unsure.