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About Just out. (Portland, OR) 1983-2013 | View Entire Issue (July 2, 2004)
July 2. 2004 ’ jlMt Mt nTTÎTïTFTHTînews he Defense of Marriage Coalition sub mitted more than 244,000 signatures June 30 in Salem to place an initiative on the fall ballot to amend the Oregon Constitution to permanently deny same- sex couples equal marriage rights. Secretary of State Bill Bradbury' has 30 days to ver ify the petitions. Considering only 100,800 valid sig natures are required, it appears the coalition will like ly succeed in placing the Defense of Marriage Act on the ballot. Basic Rights Oregon will launch a statewide cam paign to defeat the measure along with a coalition of other progressive organizations. It already has started raising funds, rented an office and hired an experi enced campaign leadership team. “While it is disappointing that the measure is like ly to be on the November ballot, we are committed to defending the thousands of Oregonians who would be profoundly harmed by a loss of equal marriage protec tions and responsibilities,” said Roey Thorpe, BRO executive director. “This campaign will be divisive and costly to all Oregonians. We wish we did not have to face this measure, but we are prepared.” The campaign will be managed by Aisling Cogh- lan, who has been a key player in numerous cam paigns, including the successful defeat of two Bill Sizemore measures and one Don McIntire measure. She will be joined by general campaign strategist Liz Kaufman, who was instrumental in successful defeats of Measures 13 and 9, and Gwenn Baldwin, who formed a winning communications strategy for Measure 13. Coghlin hopes the campaign will appeal to Orego nians’ fundamental sense of fairness. “The Oregon Constitution is a promise that all of our basic rights, including equal marriage rights, are guaranteed,” she said. “We believe Oregonians will agree that the ballot should never be used to take con- T S igned , S ealed and D elivered ? dismayed at the number of complaints we received about the Defense of Marriage Coalition’s tactics to place this measure on the ballot,” Thorpe said. “The numbers alone were upsetting, but the nature of these complaints was especially disturbing." These alleged abuses include by Jim Radosta requiring food bank clients to sign the petition prior to receiv stitutional rights away.” ing food baskets; falsely swear As one of the more than ing that signatures were wit 3,000 same-sex couples already nessed by circulators when in married in Oregon, Mary Li and fact they were left unattended at Rebecca Kennedy now wonder churches; misrepresenting the what will become of their nearly petition; and using coercive sig four-month marriage. nature collection techniques. ‘ What will wc tell our Thorpe said these are clear vio daughter, Ava?” Li said. “Our lations of Oregon election laws, marriage helps to protect our federal laws concerning the dis family. How do any of us who tribution of food at “faith are parents explain why people based” food banks and the don’t want us to have the pro ethics of democracy. tections and responsibilities of BRO has monitored the sig marriage T nature collection process Two days before the signa statewide since the initiative tures were submitted, BRO filed was approved for circulation in complaints in Salem detailing May in hopes of preventing the widespread abuses in the circu Roey Thorpe says Basic Rights Oregon measure from reaching the bal lation of petitions for the mea is prepared to launch a campaign to lot. The opposition has sure. It called on the coalition to fight the anti-gay ballot measure claimed this monitoring was an immediately and voluntarily attempt to undermine the cease such activities and asked Bradbury to throw out democratic initiative process. signatures unlawfully obtained in connection with “While we abhor efforts to place this kind of mea these tactics. sure on the ballot, we respect the right of citizens to “With an issue of this magnitude that has so much use the initiative process,” Thorpe said, “but the fact potential to affect people’s lives, we were very is that without the law, there is no democracy.” jH With an anti-gay constitutional amendment headed for the fall ballot, BRO files complaints over petition tactics How to H elp • Verify valid signa tures: BRO will train 60 vol unteers to team with a state staff member to '.eview each petition to ensure it was cor rectly filled out and to deter mine that it was signed by registered voters. Call 503-222-6151. • Set up the campaign office: BRO is seeking 15 people to help July 5 with moving into the campaign headquarters, which also needs office supplies. E-mail al issa@basicrights.org. • Join the speaker’s bureau: People will be trained to speak at communi ty meetings across the state about the ballot measure. E-mail alissa@basicrights.org. • Host a house party: Gather friends and neigh bors together to talk about the measure and why it needs to be defeated in November. E-mail bill® basicrights.org. • Become active with the campaign: Volunteers can assist with data entry, voter identification, phone banks and canvassing. E-mail info@basicrights.org. Teri Bunker, fnp Board Certified Family Nurse Practitioner Chronic and Acute Health Care Needs Friday, July 2nd Family Practice/Primary Health Care for Women. Men and Children of All Ages Most Insurance Accepted XX T STEAM 11:30pm show starring Johnny Hazzard (lights go out at 10pm) 503/460-0405 2821 NE 58th Avenue • Portland. OR 97213 Cross street at Sandy Blvd. Sunday, July 4th H ILL & WREN, LLP Attorneys at Law Personal Injuries Motor Vehicle Accidents Workers' Compensation & Work Injuries Employment Law N Discrimination I npaid Compensation Social Security & Disability I.aw Civil Litigation Geoffrey G. Wren Edward J Hill w w w. Il i 11 \V r e n -1 a w. c o nt phone: 503.281.6.362 fax: 503.288.8046 1826 NF,B road way Portland, OR 97 2.3 2-|4 30 13
