Date: Fri, 7 Jun 1996 00:22:13 -0700 (PDT) From: Richard Isaac Subject: OCA abandons Oregon anti-gay initiative (Bigot Buster statement) Greetings, Just weeks after the Supreme Court affirmed the rights of gay men and lesbians to participate in the political process, the Oregon Citizens Alliance (OCA) has announced it will abandon its third and latest effort to limit those rights in Oregon. The OCA sponsored 1992's Ballot Measure 9, the most divisive anti-gay initiative yet, which cost two lives; it failed while Amendment 2 in Colorado, struck down in the recent Supreme Court decision, passed. The OCA tried and failed again in 1994, but in the interim, spawned two other similar organizations (in Washington and Idaho, both of which failed in their ballot initiative attemps in 1994 and 1995). OCA leader Lon Mabon also failed in his run for the Oregon US Senate seat in 1996. This represents another victory in the fight against hatred and intolerance. The OCA's miserable track record will not deter it from further efforts against the rights of women and minorities (see below), however, and we must continue to resist them and support organizations such as Basic Rights Oregon . BIGOT BUSTERS salutes all those in Oregon who fought for the equal rights of all people, and those in others states, such as Maine, which still face the threats of the radical Right. Congratulations and good luck! * Richard Isaac __*_*___ \* * / Seattle *\ * ***\**/** rmisaac \/ @eskimo.com HOMEPAGE: http://www.eskimo.com/~rmisaac/ ---------- Forwarded message ---------- Date: Thu, 6 Jun 1996 12:51:51 -0700 ---------- From: alanb@efn.org Sent: Thursday, June 06, 1996 12:29 PM Subject: It's Official/OCA drops Antigay Initiative/Presses forward It's official -- in a Press Conference this morning Lon Mabon stated that they will not continue gathering signatures on their anti-gay initiative but rather will be pressing forward on their anti-choice initiative. OCA ABANDONS SIGNATURE DRIVE ON DISCRIMINATION MEASURE Basic Rights Advocates Emphasize Need to Educate Oregon Voters The OCA announced today they will abandon their drive to gather signatures for another ballot measure asking to write discrimination into the Oregon Constitution. The decision came as no surprise to anti-discrimination advocates in light of the US Supreme Court's ruling in Romer v. Evans. The ruling struck down a discriminatory measure (Amendment 2) passed in the state of Colorado. "It's not often that Lon Mabon and the OCA make our day!" declares Julie Davis, Executive Director of Basic Rights Oregon, an organization that advocates basic legal rights for all Oregon citizens. "While the high court's ruling affirms our belief in the judicial system, recognition of the legal rights of all Oregonians won't happen in the courts alone. We've got a lot of educating to do throughout the state. Recent surveys show that 80% of the public doesn't know that IT IS CURRENTLY LEGAL TO DISCRIMINATE AGAINST GAY MEN AND LESBIANS IN OREGON. "The decision of the OCA to abandon this year's pro-discrimination measure is a good sign," says Eric Fishman, Co-Chair of Basic Rights Oregon Steering Committee, "but it's important to remember that the US Supreme Court's decision in Romer didn't happen in a vacuum. Numerous groups have been working in Oregon and nationally organizing, litigating and educating people about basic legal rights." Basic Rights Oregon will move forward aggressively with the planning and implementation of a six-point program that includes: * The Fair Workplace Project - a statewide educational program that includes a fully produced seven minute video featuring former Attorney General Dave Fohnmayer, retired Oregon Supreme Court Justices, Oregon business leaders and testimonials of local workers who have experienced employment discrimination telling the truth about their experience in the workplace. * Changing the legal status of lesbians and gay men in Oregon. Oregonians can still be discriminated against in the areas of employment, housing, public accommodations and credit simply because of their actual or perceived sexual orientation. Neither the US Supreme Court ruling in Romer nor the OCA's decision to abandon its 1996 ballot box attack have an effect in these areas. In Oregon protections against discrimination exist in only four Oregon Cities -- Ashland, Corvallis, Eugene and Portland. Basic Rights Oregon will be working with other organizations to change Oregon law so that discrimination is no longer legal anywhere in our state. This will be done through a combination of educational, legislative and electoral efforts. * Continuing efforts to identify base of supporters through voter identification calls, pledge card drives and outreach work from Pendelton to Astoria, from state fairs to church meetings. * Developing leaders and training local or community organizers to assist with Basic Rights Oregon's ongoing projects on a statewide basis and identify and train campaign workers. * Building on existing coalition by expanding and strengthening relationships with other organizations, religious institutions, businesses and other potential allies. * Educating supporters about other discriminatory ballot measures including those aimed at women's reproductive freedom, immigrants, affirmative action and public education. Basic Rights Oregon exists to advance and protect human rights. It is building the broadest possible coalition to counter the activities of groups such as the Oregon Citizens Alliance; and to defeat attempts to deny basic rights through the electoral process. The organization includes a full-time professional staff and a wide array of business, labor, education, religious, gay and lesbian organizations and more than 5,000 committed volunteers throughout the state. #