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Brainstorming
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The first statewide gathering drew over 150 people to develop
strategies to defeat OCA-sponsored initiative
T
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"Mechanics With A Conscience"
by Inga Sorensen
n estimated 150 lesbians, gays, and
their supporters congregated re
cently in a Salem church basement
to share ideas and information about
how to defeat a proposed ballot ini
tiative that seeks to amend the state constitution
to declare homosexuality a “perversion.” The
July 20 collective brainstorming session attracted
civil rights supporters from across Oregon, mark
ing the first statewide gathering designed to bring
together diverse constituencies and begin to de
velop strategies to defeat the Oregon Citizens
Alliance-sponsored initiative.
Members of the Portland Lesbian Choir
kicked off the five-hour meeting at the First
Congregational Church by providing song and
inspiration. Participants then listened to an
abridged history of the conservative OCA,
shared ideas about possible barriers to creating a
successful anti-initiative campaign, pondered
ways to overcome those barriers, and discussed
the pros and cons of a proposed campaign struc
ture. The gathering was organized by the Interim
Anti-OCA Measure Organizing Group, a collec
tion of various organizations ranging from the
Right to Privacy PAC and American Civil Lib
erties Union, to the National Leather Association
and Queer Nation. Representatives from reli
gious groups, social organizations, labor unions,
and non-gay supportive groups such as Parents
and Friends o f Lesbians and Gays, were also
among those on hand.
The need to respect such diversity was, in
fact, a re-emerging concern among participants at
the meeting. Many stressed that it is essential
that gays and lesbians “not trash one another”
and instead unite to defeat the OCA. Many also
called for forming solid bonds with others both
within our community, and non-gay population
as well.
Scot Nakagawa of the Coalition for Human
Dignity, a group that monitors extremist,
rightwing organizations such as the OCA: “The
OCA’s most recent act of forming pro-troop ral
lies during the Gulf War was the most significant
step they have taken to broaden the scope of is
sues they are involved with. They’ve legitimized
themselves to a larger audience...they are now in
a much more popular position than they have
been in the past,” explained Nakagawa. He
added that during the OCA’s four-year existence,
it has opposed state-aided pre-kindergarten pro
grams, state divestment from South Africa, pa
rental leave measures, reproductive freedoms,
and basic civil rights for lesbians and gays.
“What the OCA does is work to create these
voter blocks, which they then use to leverage
themselves into different positions of power.”
The scheme, he says, is paying off. “When the
OCA ran its vice-chair A1 Mobley as its pro-life,
independent candidate for governor last election,
they did so to punish the Republican Party’s
candidate David Frohnmcycr for not taking anti-
choice, anti-gay stances. They split the Repub
lican vote and gave Barbara Roberts the election.
That move gave them the political clout to make
alliances with the Republican Party."
Political observers agree, pointing to Oregon
Senator Robert Packw ood's recent dialogues
with the OCA. Many believe that Packwood,
who is pro-choice, is attempting to appease the
group so it doesn’t run a candidate and possibly
split the vote during his re-election bid.
Nakagawa adds that the OCA is extremely
A
effective in appealing to disenfranchised citizens
who yearn for “ the good old days” that never
really existed. “Their No Special Rights cam
paign is sort of the kick in the ass that gets them
going,” he says. "The traditional family values
concept is the carrot that continues to lead them
forward.” Remember, too, that appeal seemingly
reached into the hearts and minds of the 586,311
Oregonians who voted in favor of Ballot Meas
ure 8.
W hile N akagaw a’s m essage was a serious
one, his presentation didn’t appear to leave par
ticipants with a sense o f hopelessness. In fact,
shortly following that analysis, the audience split
into smaller groups where members engaged in
enthusiastic, active dialogue about possible bar
riers to creating an effective anti-initiative cam
paign, and ways to overcom e those barriers.
Among the most commonly mentioned barriers
were the lack o f coalition-building and organiz
ing skills among the gay and lesbian community,
internalized homophobia, apathy, a lack of clear,
unified message and strategy, poor media access,
questions about how to handle divisive issues,
and the problem of community in-fighting.
Proposals to build a strong, unified campaign,
meanwhile, included the need to respect diver
sity, create coalitions, conduct outreach cam
paigns to rural areas, conduct a media blitz espe
cially in the counties where Ballot Measure 8
won, encourage active participation among sup
porters within the religious and business commu
nities, and develop effective lines of communica
tion among all the groups involved in the cam
paign.
Toward the end o f the meeting, organization
representatives discussed the merits of a specific
campaign structure proposal put on the table by
some members of the interim organizing com
mittee. With the aid o f a hired campaign con
sultant, those members drew up a draft that out
lines a four-pronged campaign structure. It calls
for the creation o f a grassroots network consist
ing primarily of individuals working on a volun
teer basis. Under the plan there would also be a
Coalition Council composed of designated repre
sentatives from all supportive organizations
statewide. Its role would include recruiting new
organizations, holding regular statewide meet
ings, developing an appropriate form of internal
communication, and activating and informing its
memberships. There would also be a Technical
Group composed of people with campaign expe
rience and “demonstrated political and organiz
ing savvy.” It would hire a campaign manager,
and essentially make the decisions about the
campaign's strategy, budget, and media and fun
draising plans. Finally, additional staff would be
brought on to help with various aspects of the
campaign.
Reaction to the proposal was mixed. Some
said it was better than no structure at all, while
others questioned whether the plan was demo
cratic enough. Many stressed the importance of
trusting the individuals who would be making
the decisions.
While the plan is just a preliminary proposal,
Right to Privacy’s Welch says she’d like to see
a campaign structure in place by the end of Sep
tember, at which point the Interim Anti-OCA
Measure Organizing Group will dissolve. Until
then, anyone interested in becoming involved in
the interim committee should contact the Right to
Privacy PAC at 228-5825.