(LAWS)
Oregon
Historic Dates
Three historic events celebrate an-
niversaries this year. In 1971, Or-
egon became the third state to
permanently abolish its law that ef-
fectively criminalized private adult
sex between people of the same
gender. The legal revision took ef-
fect on January 1, 1972, so we've
beeen celebrating the 40th anni-
versary throughout 2012.
Also in 1972, the Oregon Demo-
cratic Party adopted at its prepri-
mary convention a gay civil rights
plank. It called for a law that would
ban discrimination in employment,
housing, and possibly other areas
based on sexual orientation.
Twenty years later in 1992 we
defeated Measure 9, a proposed
constitutional amendment that
read:
“All governments in Oregon may not use their
monies or properties to promote, encourage
or facilitate homosexuality, pedophilia, sadism
or masochism. All levels of government, in-
cluding public education systems, must assist
in setting a standard for Oregon’s youth which
recognizes that these behaviors are abnormal,
wrong, unnatural and perverse and they are
to be discouraged and avoided.”
(COURT)
The Bench
Endorsed by both the Oregonian and the Gay
and Lesbian Victory fund, which is dedicated to
electing LGBT leaders, out lesbian Judge Nena
Cook has her sights set on the Oregon Supreme
Court this November. Raised by a single moth-
er, Nena started work at the age of 12 to help
support her family. In her more than twenty
years of legal practice, she has been president of
the Oregon State Bar, Judge Pro Tem, and a pri-
vate practice attorney representing individuals
and businesses in complex legal matters.
nenacookfororegonsupremecourt.org
November 2012
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