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About Just out. (Portland, OR) 1983-2013 | View Entire Issue (Aug. 18, 2000)
august 18.2000 » Ju st owt g nW!T7T!WTTTneu;s D éjà Vu A ll O ver A gain The Oregon Citizens Alliance has been a thorn in our side since 1987 T by P at Young he Oregon Citizens Alli ance is back with another Ballot Measure 9. Sound familiar? JKL, History reveals the state’s anti-gay saga began with a seem ingly harmless primary race. In 1986, the Republican campaign for U.S. Sen ate pitted incumbent Bob Packwood against Joe Lutz. At the time, Packwood was respect ed and popular. It seemed almost foolish for anyone to challenge him, especially during the primary, but Lutz did. The Baptist minister thought churches should be politically active. Most people, especially Packwood, did n’t pay much attention to Lutz. Haul those old lawn signs out of the garage to fight After all, who was this dark-horse the latest Measure 9 candidate who dared to encroach on from promoting or encouraging such abnormal Packw(xxJ’s territory? In the end, Lutz only cap behaviors and would require schools to set a tured 40 percent of the vote, but his campaign standard that homosexuality was abnormal. It inspired the religious right to become active in was so extreme, the state gained national and politics. international attention with coverage including After the election, he and several of his fol a New York Times article titled “In Oregon, Big lowers saw a niche for conservative views but no otry Will Be on the Ballot.” local or statewide organization to voice them. Individuals went to extraordinary efforts stop So, they formed the O C A in 1987 and tapped Measure 9, which ultimately was defeated. Lon Mabon as their leader. However, the campaign took a toll on the gay In 1988, the group backed at least 10 legisla community, which was emotionally, financial tive candidates and three initiatives. The state ly and physically drained. quickly learned the O C A was not to be taken Did it have time to celebrate the victory? lightly. Not really. Measure 8 sought to repeal Gov. Neil Gold Within 24 hours, Mabon announced the schmidt’s executive order banning discrimina O C A would retool Measure 9 and put it right tion by state agencies against homosexuals— a back before voters in 1994. And it did with milestone in Oregon’s history of gay rights. Measure 13. Attempts to add sexual orientation to Oregon’s To gear up for the campaign, the O C A went anti-discrimination law had failed in the state around the state passing “Son of 9” initiatives at Legislature since the first gay rights bill was the city and county levels. The measures stated introduced in 1973. that sexual orientation could not be added to When the 1987 Legislature still refused to local anti-discrimination laws. pass a gay rights bill, Goldschmidt took another The No on 9 Campaign disbanded. In its route and issued an executive order. Gay rights place, Save Our Communities, better known as activists were thrilled, hut religious conserva SOC-PAC, fought the Son of 9 measures. tives were angry and wanted to undo the execu As soon as Measure 13 qualified for the tive order as quickly as possible. ballot, SO C-PA C became No on 13. Once By now, O CA co-founder T.J. Bailey was again, the O C A wanted to amend the state’s chair of the state Republican Party. He thought constitution to prohibit the extension of only the Legislature or voters should decide minority status to homosexuals and to prohib issues relating to homosexuality. it schools from representing homosexuality as Still, it would’ve been a bit risky for the acceptable. Republican Party to sponsor an initiative to The No on 13 Campaign faced a difficult repeal the executive order, because such an challenge. People still were exhausted from effort might deepen the rift between moder 1992, and regaining that sense of urgency ates and conservatives. Instead, Mabon and proved difficult because Measure 13 lacked the the O C A took up the task, and Measure 8 sensational language of Measure 9. passed. The media still condemned Measure 13— On the positive side, the gay community was but not with nearly as much zeal as they did with forced to come of age politically in terms of fund Measure 9— and voters rejected it. After the raising and organizing a statewide campaign. election, No on 13 grew into Basic Rights Ore But it was a hard lesson to learn. gon, which now faces the latest Measure 9, the 1992’s Measure 9 went even further. It Student Protection Act. sought to amend the state’s constitution to group homosexuality with pedophilia, sadism ■ PAT Y oung , a Portland-based free-lance writer and masochism as being abnormal and perverse and gay and lesbian historian, is writing a book behavior. about Ballot Measure 9. Further, it would forbid local government N on -T raditional C ouples N eed M ore T han A C ouple of T raditional S olutions . Floreid Walker has over a decade of experience and understanding. For your unique financial needs, call and talk with Floreid about: cy Comprehensive Financial Planning oy Roth IRAs 8c Traditional IRAs 0 * TSA, SEP, SIM PLE 8c 401k Plans ey College Education Planning oy Life 8c Disability Insurance cy Long Term Care Insurance oy Strategic FOCUSPlans for any “ what if ?” scenarios. WADDELL Financial Services Investing. With a plan. For a personal financial plan, call: floreid walker Senior Financial Advisor 503.238.6036 500 N.E. Multnomah, Suite 278, Portland, OR 97232 www.waddell.comwww.floreidwalker.com M e m b e r S IP C •2000 Presi den t ' l Council Member"
