ON MARCH 5, the group that earlier lost a court battle to
block Oregon’s domestic partnership re-emerged, filing an appeal in the
United States Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit.
The documents filed so far don’t say much, other than the
plaintiffs—folks who signed a referral measure aimed at putting
the domestic partnership law to a vote before it took effect, a measure
that failed to garner enough signatures—are appealing. The
Alliance Defense Fund, whose attorneys filed the appeal, did not return
the Mercury‘s call for comment.
In the meantime, the initiative filed earlier this month to repeal
the domestic partnership law—and another initiative that would
repeal the anti-discrimination law that protects on the basis of sexual
orientation and gender identity—received a ballot title on
Monday, March 10. The ballot title is the first step before an
initiative can even head out the door for signature gathering; both
proponents and opponents can object to the ballot title, and duke it
out in court, which could tie up the initiatives for weeks.
The domestic partnership repeal’s title reads: “Repeals state law
that grants privileges, immunities, rights, benefits, responsibilities
of marriage to domestic partners.” The word “marriage” is almost
certain to provoke an appeal.
Basic Rights Oregon (BRO) has yet to file an appeal of the ballot
title. However, earlier, BRO’s executive director responded to the dual
initiatives: “We expected to spend this year defending the
laws along with implementing them, and that’s exactly what
we’re doing,” says Jeana Frazzini. “Basic Rights Oregon will monitor
our opponents’ efforts to make sure they follow the rules. These folks
are already under investigation for breaking campaign finance laws
during last year’s failed referendum efforts. And we will continue to
mobilize fair-minded Oregonians through voter outreach, public
education, and grassroots organizing.”