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Attorney Frank Patrick talks to the media
during a rally M arch 2 9 outside the Justice
Center
(Chief Justice Wallace P. Carson Jr.] put out the
word that everybody should take the right
oath— then that in itself was an admission that
he had had an improper oath when he said that
he had a proper one.
“Then in further study we found out that
the corrected oath wasn’t even the proper
oath, and so we challenged that again. T h at’s
what brought us to the impasse o f me going
to the deposition— that the order that he
signed wasn’t a valid order because he didn’t
have the proper oath— and that’s what I
challenged.”
When asked whether he thinks all deci
sions made by “impostor” judges should be
tossed out— or just this decision— Mahon was
evasive.
“I think that that’s an issue that has to be
decided by the courts themselves on the scope
of the reality of it,” he said. “1 can only deal
with the judges that are in my case, and we’ve
researched those. The last we checked, every
judge in the Circuit Court of Multnomah
County does not have the proper oath. I think
they need to have the proper oath. Regardless
of the merits of the underlying case we’re
involved in, 1 think every judge needs to have
the proper oath, and I think most citizens
would agree.”
Insiders say Mahon is using his incarceration
as an excuse to energize the anti-gay movement
throughout the state. However, he claimed the
idea never crossed his mind.
“I haven’t given it any thought,” he said. “I
had hoped my incarceration would bring the
focus of the citizenry on the oath and the fact
that the judges need to be following the consti
tution, as we’re supposed to be following the law.
1 don’t really see a connection politically
between challenging that aspect of it and fight
ing the homosexual political agenda.”
Just Out then pointed out to Mabon the pres
ence of the man who arguably is the state’s sec
ond most powerful anti-gay leader: Lou Beres,
Oregon Christian Coalition executive director
and co-petitioner of the Student Protection
G o o d N ew s , B a d N ew s
OCA tosses two measures while shifting anti-gay campaign
into high gear by Jim Radosta
n unforeseen benefit o f Cather
ine Stauffer’s lawsuit cam e to
light upon Lon Mahon’s release
from jail earlier this month.
T he Oregon Citizens A lliance
chairman admitted his incarceration has set
back the anti-gay organization’s latest initia
tive efforts.
“It has thrown a major monkey wrench into
our collecting signatures,” Mabon told the Ore
gonian. “We’re way, way behind. It’s going to
take a herculean effort to make it.”
Mabon said he is abandoning the Divine Life
Sovereignty Amendment, which would have
banned abortion and physician-aided dying, and
A
is “leaning against” an initiative to change the
oath of office taken by judges. However, he still
plans to pursue the Student Protection A ct II,
which would prohibit public school instruction
that approves, promotes or endorses homosexu
al or bisexual behaviors.
In fact, Mabon revealed he and the Oregon
Christian Coalition are enlisting the help iff
churches statewide. “That’s about the only way
an organization like ours is going to get on the
ballot,” he said.
Signatures are due July 5. If they are verified,
that would leave only four months for gay rights
activists to put together an opposition campaign
before Election Day on Nov. 5. JH
Act II, a measure that might appear on the fall
ballot. He continued to deny any connection
between the Stauffer case and his relentless
opposition to equal rights.
"But he’s a friend,” Mabon said of Beres.
“He’s not here because of the political battle
that we’re doing with the homosexual agenda.”
Mabon also was asked about the Committee
for Constitutional Courts, a Clackamas-based
organization run by Jeremy Bowen, president of
the youth group O C A Underground, who
recently wrote a fund-raising letter that says, in
part: “Every day our friend is behind bars is
another day of torment for his family and victo
ry for forces of evil. Your contribution will only
go to Lon’s defense.”
Mabon responded: “To be honest with you I
haven’t even read the letter yet. I’ve been kind
of indisposed for the last 42 days, and so I’ve still
got some things to catch up on. But I’ll look at
it. I didn’t write the letter, obviously.”
The couple’s attorney, Frank Patrick, called
the press conference off as soon as Just Out
brought up the committee’s anti-gay rhetoric.
“You’re well beyond the issue at this point,” he
fumed as he stormed out of the courthouse. j n
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