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About Just out. (Portland, OR) 1983-2013 | View Entire Issue (Aug. 7, 2009)
OREGON S GAY/LESBIAN/BI/TRANS NEWSMAGAZINE AUGUST 7 2009 N O R T H W E S T N EW S W LLI« illamette Financial Group LLC Together, let’s create a personalized strategy for your goals and dreams, whether • planning for your retirement • evaluating your current portfolio • managing distributions from your retirement accounts • utilizing unique planning strategies for singles and same sex couples • aligning your financial goals with your social and environmental values Before making any investment decision, call... G w e n d e Silver, w ho works for the Bus P ro je c t was ca n v a s s in g for m a rria g e e q u a lity in Hillsboro The m a in o b je c tiv e is not to d e b a t e g a y m a rria g e but to start a d ia lo g u e with p e o p le the domestic partnership law?” the woman asks in turn. “I’m not sure,” Silver responds. “Right now, I think it may just be changing it to marriage.” Silver leaves a flyer with the woman, who says she will look at it. Basic Rights Oregon’s Executive Direc tor Jeana Frazzini views the conversations as an opportunity to further fine-tune the campaign’s focus and thrust. “I t’s a chance to learn from those con versations, to better understand what the dialogue looks like, and where folks are kind o f hung up on the issue,” says Frazzini. The campaign’s messaging strategy reflects the desire to reach out to people not neces sarily supportive of marriage equality. Trying to tap into “shared values,” the campaign is drumming home a message of fairness and devotion to family. “W e’ve really worked to take it out of the head and into the heart,” Frazzini says. “W e’re not going to change anybody’s minds through argument and debate,” Wheatley adds. “Marriage is about commit ment, responsibility, and taking care of one’s family. That’s something we can all agree on.” The responses canvassers have been re ceiving suggest the message is resonating. “I am very surprised, let me tell you,” Sil ver shares. “I’m pretty shocked that I haven’t met more people who oppose it.” O f course, that’s not always the case. “Marriage is a man and a woman,” an older man tells her. “It started out that way, Foster Fitness and it’s going to be that way.” “Absolutely not,” another woman says toward the end o f the canvass. “I t ’s a sin and the Bible says so.” A t the end o f the day, with Burgerville milkshakes in their stomachs, and over chips and salsa in the Bus Project’s kitchen, the PolitiCorps fellows are optimistic about marriage equality’s chances in Oregon. They knocked on 162 doors, with 32 people sign ing pledges. “W e’ve been in other areas where it’s the total opposite,” Lindsay says. Canvassing to start a dialogue is only the first step, Frazzini notes. But when asked w hat’s ahead for the three-year campaign, Frazzini isn’t sure. “W e’re working now to figure out what the second phase might look like,” she says. Part o f the reason, she explains, is that legalizing gay marriage through a ballot ini tiative has not been attempted in any other state. . “This is something that there is not a road map for,” Frazzini says. And it’s not at all clear, to Frazzini at least, whether Oregon will be ready for a ballot measure initiative legalizing gay mar riage in four years. “We are far enough away from 2012, we can’t gauge what the landscape will look like,” Frazzini says. J K THINK YOU CAN'T AFFORD TO BUY? G o to m y w e b site a n d Floreid Walker* ChFC® g e t in fo o n h o w a m o rtg a g e ca n be m o re a ffo rd a b le th a n rent. C o m m itte d to client success since 1 9 8 7 Financial Planning Strategist Retirement Income Distribution Strategist W illam ette Financial Group 3529 N E Broadway, Ste 101 503.445.9390 ext. 101 floreid@wfgadvisors.com www.wfgadvisors.com Floreid Walker* is an Investment Representative offering securities and investment advisory services offered ■ÿiéntf A m bi through SagePoint Financial, Inc. member FIN R A /SIPC and a registered investment advisor. Willamette Financial Group LLC is not affiliated with SagePoint Financial, Inc. or registered as a broker-dealer or investment advisor. G re a t ta x b e n e fits, to o ! 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