Folks-
Anyone in Oregon, please REFUSE to sign either of the ballot initiatives below. I normally would sign anything to give it a chance either way on the ballot as part of democracy.
However, these initiatives are biggotted and immoral and thus should be blocked!
Please feel free to forward the messages below to others for educational purposes...
Thank you,
-Heather
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In addition to the anti-equality petition that would repeal Oregon's domestic partnership law, our opposition has filed another that would overturn legislation that makes discrimination in housing, employment and public accommodations against the law. We know Oregonians support these laws, and we will do everything we can do stop these anti-equality activists from turning the clock back on equality.
Anti-equality interests need to collect nearly 83,000 signatures by July to put their petitions on the November 2008 ballot. Basic Rights Oregon is committed to closely monitoring the signature gathering process to ensure that all elections rules are followed.
If you haven't already, take a moment to Sign the Pledge to Defend Equality, and send it on to friends, family members, and colleagues.
Read more about BRO's response to the repeal initiatives. We'll keep you in the loop whenever new information is available.
Onward,
Jeana Frazzini
Executive Director
Basic Rights Oregon
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Basic Rights Oregon has learned that Oregon State Senator Fred Girod and State Rep. Sal Esquivel have filed an initiative to repeal Oregon's domestic partnership law. Outrageously, this time around the effort is being spearheaded by state legislators whose duty it is to protect Oregonians.
What can you do?
Sign the Pledge to Defend Equality!
Tell a friend about the Pledge to Defend Equality!
Make a contribution to Basic Rights Oregon.
We cannot afford to be complacent. To put this divisive and discriminatory measure on the November 4, 2008 ballot, they will need to collect about 83,000 valid signatures by July 3.
We knew this was in the works. When our opponents failed to gather enough signatures for their referendum effort last year, they vowed to try again. We knew that even though we fought them - and won - in court, they would not give up. And here they are, with yet another divisive and discriminatory proposal, backed by out-of-state groups with deep pockets to fund their unpopular agenda.
Sign the Pledge to Defend Equality!
Ask your friends, family, and colleagues to sign the pledge!
We now know most Oregonians aren't buying what these guys are selling. Oregonians don't want to put their LGBT neighbors in harm's way. Oregonians believe that loving couples who have made a lifelong commitment to one another should have the basic security provided by domestic partnerships.
The groups in charge of last year's referendum efforts still have investigations pending against them in the Secretary of State's office. We don't think they are above cheating again - and we'll make sure they don't get away with breaking the law. Basic Rights Oregon will monitor their efforts to make sure they follow the rules.
At the same time, we will continue to mobilize fair-minded Oregonians across this state to take a stand for equality - through voter outreach, public education, media engagement, and grassroots organizing.
Stay tuned! Basic Rights Oregon will keep you informed every step of the way.
Jeana Frazzini,
Executive Director
Basic Rights Oregon
Tue, March 4, 2008 - 2:23 PM - permalink - 0 Comments
Anyone in Oregon, please REFUSE to sign either of the ballot initiatives below. I normally would sign anything to give it a chance either way on the ballot as part of democracy.
However, these initiatives are biggotted and immoral and thus should be blocked!
Please feel free to forward the messages below to others for educational purposes...
Thank you,
-Heather
-----
In addition to the anti-equality petition that would repeal Oregon's domestic partnership law, our opposition has filed another that would overturn legislation that makes discrimination in housing, employment and public accommodations against the law. We know Oregonians support these laws, and we will do everything we can do stop these anti-equality activists from turning the clock back on equality.
Anti-equality interests need to collect nearly 83,000 signatures by July to put their petitions on the November 2008 ballot. Basic Rights Oregon is committed to closely monitoring the signature gathering process to ensure that all elections rules are followed.
If you haven't already, take a moment to Sign the Pledge to Defend Equality, and send it on to friends, family members, and colleagues.
Read more about BRO's response to the repeal initiatives. We'll keep you in the loop whenever new information is available.
Onward,
Jeana Frazzini
Executive Director
Basic Rights Oregon
-----
Basic Rights Oregon has learned that Oregon State Senator Fred Girod and State Rep. Sal Esquivel have filed an initiative to repeal Oregon's domestic partnership law. Outrageously, this time around the effort is being spearheaded by state legislators whose duty it is to protect Oregonians.
What can you do?
Sign the Pledge to Defend Equality!
Tell a friend about the Pledge to Defend Equality!
Make a contribution to Basic Rights Oregon.
We cannot afford to be complacent. To put this divisive and discriminatory measure on the November 4, 2008 ballot, they will need to collect about 83,000 valid signatures by July 3.
We knew this was in the works. When our opponents failed to gather enough signatures for their referendum effort last year, they vowed to try again. We knew that even though we fought them - and won - in court, they would not give up. And here they are, with yet another divisive and discriminatory proposal, backed by out-of-state groups with deep pockets to fund their unpopular agenda.
Sign the Pledge to Defend Equality!
Ask your friends, family, and colleagues to sign the pledge!
We now know most Oregonians aren't buying what these guys are selling. Oregonians don't want to put their LGBT neighbors in harm's way. Oregonians believe that loving couples who have made a lifelong commitment to one another should have the basic security provided by domestic partnerships.
The groups in charge of last year's referendum efforts still have investigations pending against them in the Secretary of State's office. We don't think they are above cheating again - and we'll make sure they don't get away with breaking the law. Basic Rights Oregon will monitor their efforts to make sure they follow the rules.
At the same time, we will continue to mobilize fair-minded Oregonians across this state to take a stand for equality - through voter outreach, public education, media engagement, and grassroots organizing.
Stay tuned! Basic Rights Oregon will keep you informed every step of the way.
Jeana Frazzini,
Executive Director
Basic Rights Oregon
Tue, March 4, 2008 - 2:23 PM - permalink - 0 Comments
posted by:
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Portland
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Re: Urgent: New LGBT Rights Laws In Oregon Under Major Attack!
Thu, March 6, 2008 - 12:46 AMAnd tell your friends, relatives (if they're cool with that kind of thing), co-workers (if they're cool with that kind of thing). If you're not out as trans, be concerned about gay rights. Trust me, it's pretty easy to explain how gay rights are inherently interlinked to gender expression rights to soften things up for people who might not be comfortable with trannies but value their lesbigay friends.
It's really easy to get initiatives on the ballot in Oregon and Washington alike. Last year, the anti-queer forces failed in both cases and failed SPECTACULARLY. Let's see it go down in flames again (and Washingtonians, they might try again this year, too.) Keep in mind that these gathering efforts were largely centered in Eastern Washington, and in most of Oregon outside the Eugene-Portland corridor. I distinctly remember going to visit my grandmother in Pendleton and watching a gentleman collecting signatures to "stop the menace" and he got fewer takers than a ballot measure seeking a tax hike to build 6' ninja statues in every town. Seriously, it was INSPIRING. I was unhappy with his presence at first but watching people say no over and over...or just ignore him and his garish STOP GAYS sign...it was beautiful. I have no doubt it'll fail if it gets on the ballot anyways, but it's more fun to have them never get that far.
The majority seems to believe in rights for all queers..so much for claiming they don't when they can't get 83,000 (or so) signatures in a state with a population of 3.7 million, in the case of Oregon, or 275,000 (or so) signatures in Washington, a state where paid signature gathering is legal and has a population of 6.5 million. In both cases, the number is so small that the denials mean something.
