Oregon Perches on the Cusp of Enlightened Living

Carla and her gang over at Preemptive Karma, in addition to having a spectacular site, has yet another look at the hypocrisy and homophobia in government...this time in Oregon.

Rocking SB 1000

Last November the citizens of Oregon voted to pass Measure 36. Measure 36 changed the Oregon Constitution to legally recognize only those marriages between a man and a woman.

Fortunately, polling in Oregon indicates that citizens support civil unions for gay and lesbian couples:

A recent statewide poll indicated there is more support than opposition among Oregon voters for civil unions.

The survey, conducted by Portland pollster Mike Riley, found that 49 percent of voters support civil unions compared with 30 percent opposed and 21 percent undecided. The poll's margin of error was 4.5 percent.

Riley said he sees no conflict between that result and the fact that Oregon voters last November endorsed Measure 36, the constitutional ban on same-sex marriage, by a 57 percent to 43 percent margin.

I don't get the disconnect...but whatever works.

And so with citizen support for civil unions, the Oregon Senate passed SB1000, which would legalize civil unions for gay couples in Oregon. The bill would also make orientation discrimination illegal.

Even the often besmirched Nike corporation has come out publicly for the bill. Nike refuses to back down from their support despite threats of boycotts from rightwing activists outside the state.

The bill now languishes in the Republican controlled Oregon House, where House Speaker Karen Minnis refuses to schedule the bill.

Speaker Minnis knows the bill would pass. The support is there in the House. And that's exactly the reason she won't schedule the bill.

Minnis' fiat is a slap in the face to all Oregonians. This very small minority of individuals is forcing a very large group of citizens from enjoying the most basic of rights: being a legally recognized family and protect individuals from discrimination. Minnis' cowardly and shameful attempt to hide SB1000 from a House vote is a black eye on the entire Republican Party of Oregon.

Via TJ, a rally is scheduled in Salem for July 20 at 6PM, with a "hoped-for surprise guest". I may just have to make the drive.

Minnis must be held to account for her actions.

Here are some other very important links to visit:

Here's TJ from AlsoAlso:
http://alsoalso.typepad.com/also_also/2005/07/pushing_sb1000_.html

Here's Bryan from GayRightsWatch:
http://gayrightswatch.blogspot.com/2005/07/so-maybe-we-went-blog-crazy-today.html#comments

And of course, Basic Rights Oregon:
http://basicrights.blogspot.com/2005/07/action-alert-rally-with-bro-at-capitol.html

You can contact Minnis to give her some of the hell she deserves:
Email: rep.karenminnis@state.or.us
Phone: 503-986-1200
Fax: 503-986-1201



Please...

Read, think, ACT!!