SALEM -- Social conservatives and church groups are admitting defeat in their efforts to collect signatures for initiatives to repeal two Oregon gay rights laws in this November's election.

The campaigns were aimed at derailing a domestic partnership law and another new law banning discrimination based on sexual orientation. Both were enacted by the 2007 Legislature.

Opponents say they are dropping their efforts to qualify the repeal initiatives for this fall's ballot because neither has received a state-approved ballot title and the deadline for turning in signatures is only a few weeks away -- July 3rd.

Former state Sen. Marylin Shannon, a Brooks Republican who was co-sponsor of the measure to repeal the domestic partnership law, said opponents aren't going to give up and will work to place a repeal measure on the 2010 ballot.

"There should be a vote of the people on this," Shannon said.

But the state's leading gay rights group, Basic Rights Oregon, says the latest failure by opponents to force a statewide vote on the issue shows that a growing number of Oregonians support giving same-sex couple rights and protections similar to marriage.

Opponents of Oregon gay rights law abandon repeal effort - Oregon, Northwest and National Politics & Elections News - Oregonlive.com

Perhaps fighting to ensure that some bigotted employer can fire a gay person just because he is gay isn't as popular as some might hope?