07/20/2007
Oregon's Gay Rights Victories May Be Put on Hold by Bigots
"Pro-family" groups are declaring that a petition drive to collect signatures in order to suspend two gay rights measures from taking effect as scheduled on January 1st, 2008 is enjoying "awesome" success.
Last April, the Oregon legislature passed not only a sweeping domestic partners bill that would give same-sex couples in the state all the rights enjoyed by heterosexual couples (aside from the "marriage" name), but it also passed an important employment, housing, and public accomodations non-discrimination bill.
Almost immediately, a group called Defense of Family and Marriage Again, spearheaded by former senator Marilyn Shannon, began a drive to overturn the bills. Said a spokesperson for the group: "We've got 15,000 petitions out there and we're printing more. I'm willing to predict that Oregonians will vote on this in 2008."
Should the group collect 55,179 signatures by Sept. 26, the gay rights measures will be halted from going into effect and placed for a vote on the November 2008 ballot.
OregonLive reports: "The executive director of the state's largest gay rights group, Basic Rights Oregon, said it appears that opponents will be able to round up enough signatures to keep the two laws on hold until next year's general election. 'It's unfortunate that a small group of people don't agree with basic fairness,' John Hummel said Thursday. However, Hummel predicted that gay rights supporters ultimately would prevail if the issues are placed before Oregon voters next year, since polls have shown a growing number of Oregonians back the two laws."
Sphere: Related ContentPosted 12:45 PM EST by Andy in Gay Marriage, Gay Rights, News, Oregon | Permalink
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When, oh when, will these self-righteous baby boomers quit trying to legislate morality for the rest of us?
No worries. These right-wing freakouts are simply a knee-jerk response to a socio-cultural change that has already taken place. As these people die off, they will be replaced by those who actually value fairness for everyone.
Posted by: Brian | Jul 20, 2007 12:52:29 PM
Wish we all could just get along and respect all people are different!
Posted by: Michael Cabina | Jul 20, 2007 1:01:07 PM
I am not so sure that once the old biggots die out, everything will be ok. There is a huge evangelical youth movement out there. This awful christian cult is recruiting children at a very young age and turning them into the biggots you see in Oregon. Until more people embrace reason and discard religious faith (the way they did in most of Europe) there will be no equal rights for gays.
Posted by: ReasonBased | Jul 20, 2007 1:06:04 PM
As long as the majority straight population continues to dictate our rights, we will be living under their authority.
Posted by: Bill | Jul 20, 2007 1:12:12 PM
Yes, ReasonBased and Bill, you said it like it is... my sentiments exactly. Voltaire was right "ecraser l'infame!"... crush the infamy and he was referring to x-tianity. As for the x-tians no amount of reason (backed by science) will enlighten them. They cherish their supersititions and ignorance. My question is: is their stupidity and intolerance inbred, in the genes perhaps? It's a topic for science to explore.
Posted by: the queen | Jul 20, 2007 1:29:40 PM
Pretty soon now, Matt is going to stop by to tell us why GLBT citizens don't need any 'special rights' like marriage.
Posted by: peterparker | Jul 20, 2007 2:14:02 PM
Yeah PP, he and STEPHEN.
;)
Posted by: Zeke | Jul 21, 2007 5:35:31 PM