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About Just out. (Portland, OR) 1983-2013 | View Entire Issue (Oct. 1, 2004)
k 'riìlK ih October 1 .2004 • news L ouisiana and the just O U t 19 R eferendum D ominos Severol other states to vote on same-sex marriage bans this fall by Bob Roehr ouisiana voters went to the polls Sept. 18 and by 78 percent to 22 percent opted to amend their state constitution to prohibit same-sex marriage. Gay and lesbian leaders acknowledged that similar measures on the November ballot likely will pass in 11 other states, hut a handful of states look less grim than others. They discussed those plans with reporters in a Sept. 19 tele conference arranged by the National Gay and Lesbian Task Force. “All across the country, our community is very much the underdog,” said Matt Foreman, executive director of NGLTF. “In every one of those instances, we are the underdog in terms of people and resources. We believe strongly that if we have the time and the resources to talk to people about this issue that we could win these.” Louisianan Tim Homback, executive direc tor of the Forum for Equality PAC and Founda- tum, said: “We’re in the Deep South, the Bible Belt. Once you step out of New Orleans, things become rapidly different.” He acknowledged: “We took it on the chin and we lost, hut we also won. We have a stronger infrastructure now. We now have groups throughout the state” where none existed before. The pro-gay forces in Louisiana ran their campaign on less than $50,000, which Foreman called “not even a drop in the bucket.” Most of that money funded legal moves that tried to keep the measure off the ballot. Louisiana law says that a constitutional amendment can only address a sin out how far-reaching part two of this amend gle issue, and opponents have ment is, they are planning to overwhelmingly argued that the measure that passed stand with us and vote no in November.” addressed two issues and therefore The trick is to reach enough voters to should he declared void. That law- explain this. The emphasis is on walking door suit will be filed shortly. to door in eight communities. Foreman said the state amend Earlier campaigns to try to block anti-gay mar ments are being pushed by social riage efforts in Hawaii, California and the U.S. conservatives as a way to turn out Congress often avoided even using the words the vote to support their candidates. “gay” or “marriage,” choosing instead to talk “By that measure they failed” in about fairness and not amending constitutions. Louisiana, he argued. “This hot- “That is not persuasive to voters," Fleischer button issue did not turn out the said. “Our fear in dealing with the issue in a electorate in the way they direct way was obvious. We were not even thought.” engaging in a conversation with voters." Only 28 percent of registered Foreman said that earlier messages were voters showed up at the polls, com developed from the summation of a long prcKess pared with 49.5 percent last year, with focus groups. “But we really haven’t had when more issues and contested the resources to go through the different levels” races were on the ballot. of grappling with the complex issues surround Dave Fleischer, NGLTF’s direc ing same-sex marriage with the larger public. tor of organizing and training, said The Oregon campaign is taking at least a Louisiana and the earlier losing half-step away from this toward greater honesty, battle in Missouri “tell us where we and an even larger step with greater resources. start on the issue of same-sex mar “One of the components is asking people to riage with the American public. take a look at marriage and appreciate that it is But they don’t tell us where we are not as simple as people think. Not allowing n/\md i r s icK *' n z iim o r going to f finish” if rU the queer corn- people to marry causes real harm to real fami munity runs strong campaigns to Aisling Coghlan, manager of the No on 36 campaign, cites lies,” Fleischer explained. change those attitudes, he said, He said that Michigan offers potentially fer Oregon’s history of defeating anti-gay ballot measures “It is clear that a majority of tile political ground to defeat its amendment hut states are going to vote on this issue by 2007. The community lost that first fight hut came that the sheer size of the state means it would This is really the first national referendum our hack to win the subsequent battles. require three times the financial and volunteer country has ever had on any issue,” Fleischer That first campaign “really started a conver resources as Oregon. That practical concern said. “Turning hack even one of these anti-gay sation with Oregon voters about GLBT issues,” makes it a lower priority for national resources. ballot measures illustrates our Coghlan said. The three later victories demon Utah offers another surprising ray of hope. potential to change hearts and strated that Oregon voters “don’t want to treat The three candidates for state attorney general minds and votes on this issue.” gay and lesbian Oregonians unequally.” have come ou{ against its amendment because He cautioned against relying She is especially optimistic of flaws in the language that exclusively on the courts on this because of the legacy of 16,000 "^¡j QQ[Q$$ Q(Jf (OUlltfV ma^e a overly broad. And the issue. Historically, the courts do donors and more than 5,000 . . Mormon Church, a dominant not like to get tixi far ahead of volunteers from the earlier strug- 0UI COmmUillty IS VB iy force in the state, has so far public opinion as reflected at the gles. The campaign has raised m n rh tha lmrlarr1nn,, ^cPr quiet on the issue. Local ballot box. The community must $1.3 million so far and began “ “ UllUclUUy organizing is proceeding. show at least some popular sup broadcasting commercials in — Matt Foreman Foreman urged the commu- port for same-sex marriage. September. But the key to it all nity to “define our own victo- Oregon is shaping up as the is one-on-one conversations with voters about ries and not have victory defined solely at the strongest hope to defeat an what the constitutional amendment means. ballot box.” That means using the state cam anti-gay amendment. Aisling Kentucky, which is facing its first statewide paigns to better organize the community, build Coghlan, manager of the No on campaign on a gay issue, falls between the two alliances and educate the broader public. C onstitutional Amendment extremes in terms of its resources and organiza “That is victory, and we should not mini 36 campaign, said Oregon is tion. Sarah Reece, No on the Amendment mize those victories,” he said. j n Matt Foreman, executive director of the National Gay and different different because because “we “we have have campaign manager, said the language “forever Lesbian Task Force, says more pro-gay campaigns could be fought four anti-gay hSTlot mea- bans access to legal recognition to all unmarried B o b R o eh r is a free-lance r e e n te r based in won if more money was available sures” dating from 1988. partners, both straight and gay. When folks find Washington, D.C. C\\J esisldey ATTENTION! GAY, LESBIAN, B l, TRANS FRIENDLY • COMPANY RETIREES • CURRENT EMPLOYEES Our professionals ^2*° zoili arrange your delivery Don Duncan owner & Teleflora ( 503 ) 642-9992 1 - 800 - 356-1884 Aloha Market Centre 20455 SW TV Highway www.westsideflorist.net Injured? ...Call me Free Consultation No Fee U nless You Recover Medical • Dental • Rx *34.95 - *109.95/«*. ENTIRE FAMILY! 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