The following is the text of Oregon House Bill 3500, now law, which is intended to stop the Oregon Citizens' Alliance anti-gay campaign now underway in its tracks. This bill was a compromise solution as Senate Bill 34, outlawing discrimination against gays and lesbians in housing, etc. couldn't make it out of the House Judiciary Committee. HB3500 passed by 19-11 in the Senate on July 28, and Gov. Barbara Roberts (D) signed it into law on August 2, 1993. >From _Twist_Weekly_, Aug. 5, 1993; reprinted without permission ...Section 1. (1) A political subdivision of the state may not enact or enforce any charter provision, ordinance, resolution, or policy granting special rights, privileges, or treatment to any citizen or group of citizens on account of sexual orientation, or enact or enforce any charter provision, ordinance, resolution, or policy that singles out citizens or groups of citizens on account of sexual orientation. (2) Any person who believes that a political subdivision has enacted or is enforcing a charter provision, ordinance, resolution, or policy in violation of this section may bring an action in circuit court to have the charter provision, ordinance, resolution, or policy declared invalid, for injunctive relief and for such other relief as the court may consider appropriate. The court shall award reasonable attorney fees and costs to a plaintiff who prevails in an action under this subsection. Section 2. This Act being necessary for the immediate preservation of the public peace, helath and safety, an emergency is declared to exist, and this Act takes effect upon its passage. END QUOTE Summary and Analysis: This bill is intended to end the OCA's ballot initiatives currently underway, or at least invalidate them if passed, and thereby end the divisiveness over this issue in Oregon. The law may be subject to legal challenges, as "special rights" has no legal meaning, and Lon Mabin, head of the OCA, is already pushing for the recall of many legislators who voted for HB3500. The effect of the law will be to prohibit anti-gay measures from being enforced as they "single out" gays and lesbians, while anti-discrimination laws should be allowed to stand, as they do NOT grant "special rights," (equal rights not being special rights) nor "single out" any group as they are usually phrased as to cover ALL sexual orientations. This action by the Oregon Legislature, together with the bright picture in the Colorado courts, are hopeful signs that the most high-profile attacks on the civil rights of sexual minorities may be on their way to being defeated; in turn, groups in other states who wish to pass such initiatives will see the ultimate futility of such moves, and their opponents can gain some knowledge of successful counter-tactics should the initiative process get underway in their state nevertheless. Richard Isaac Seattle