In response to today’s ruling overturning California’s Proposition 8, we asked some local community leaders who are invested in the gay community what they think the victory for gay rights might mean for Oregon.

Oregon passed its own constitutional amendment, Measure 36, in 2004, which defines marriage as a union between one man and one woman. Could an opposition movement be in the works, bolstered by the news from the Golden State?

The Reverend Chuck Currie, minister, the United Church of Christ:

The decision in California will help spur the movement to help overturn Measure 36… the coming campaign [against the Oregon law] will be an opportunity for Christians to come together in ending discrimination. As a minister, I feel that religion was misused by the proponents of Measure 36, in a very divisive campaign. Now people are putting the foundation together to overturn it, whether that’s through a ballot measure or based on a court decision.

Kendall Clawson, Executive Director, the Q Center:

This is an amazing stepping stone, and puts the spotlight on the issue for our state. Everybody should be able to enjoy, experience, and frankly demand full equality… this decision is coming from a federal judge. That means it can’t be shoved in the back of another state’s closet, and people will have to pay attention to it.

Jeana Frazzini, Executive Director, Basic Rights Oregon:

This is encouraging for Oregon, and it underscores a growing consensus. But it will go to the Supreme Court, and there will probably be many years of wrangling in court. This work can be challenging, and sometimes overwhelming. So we need to celebrate every step of the way.

3 replies on “What the Prop 8 Decision Means for Oregon”

  1. Given that this will almost certainly wind up in the 9th Circuit Court of Appeals, wouldn’t this make same sex marriage legal in Oregon (and WA, and AK, and ID and so on) if the plaintiffs were successful again? (Assuming the unlikely situation that there was no stay on the verdict before it went to the Supreme Court.)

    I’m really not a lawyer though, so maybe someone else can explain….

  2. We were married (later ruled invalid) in California in the 2004 event, and domestically-partnered (we still say “husband”, dammit) in Oregon later on, not to mention all the (very expensive) private legal contracts and will, so we will keep soldiering on (insert Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell joke here) as long as it takes.

    I used to say that since there were widespread attempts to take away the rights of gay people, it wouldn’t be long before haters of equality went after other groups.

    Now, the teabagger (insert another joke here) crowd is trying to repeal the 14th amendment. Goodbye birthright citizenship! Goodbye the rights of the descendants of slaves. Who needs the 14th amendment, anyway?

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