Tag: Oregon

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Oregon Attorney General Ellen Rosenblum will not defend same-sex marriage ban in court

Oregon Attorney General Ellen Rosenblum announced today that she will not defend the state against the marriage equality lawsuit filed in federal court in October.

Rosenblum said that she will continue to enforce the gay marriage ban until the court rules, but added that the ban “cannot withstand a federal constitutional challenge under any standard of review.”

Several state Attorney Generals across the country have taken several steps regarding state bans on marriage equality. In Pennsylvania, Virginia, Nevada and more, the AG’s say the laws are unconstitutional and can’t withstand court fights.

A Democrat, Rosenblum is the state’s first female Attorney General.

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Oregon Family Council files ballot initiative to legalize discrimination

The Portland Tribune is reporting that anti-gay group Oregon Family Council has filed a ballot initiative to make it legal for those who oppose marriage equality to discriminate based on “religious freedoms:”

The East Portland group filed a state ballot initiative Thursday, Nov. 21, that would guarantee the right of people and businesses to refrain from participating in or supporting ceremonies for same-sex civil unions, domestic partnerships or marriages, if those violate their religious beliefs.

The group calls the measure the Protect Religious Freedom Initiative.

The measure is a response to public penalties and lawsuits brought against bakers, florists and photographers in Oregon, Washington, Colorado and New Mexico who refused to play roles in same-sex ceremonies for civil unions, domestic partnerships or marriages, says Teresa Harke communications director for Oregon Family Council.

Harke says the Council’s focus is moving more towards protecting “religious freedoms” versus opposing marriage equality as recent events show the advances for legalizing same-sex marriage across the country show the direction the country is taking on the issue.

In Oregon, recent polls show 53% support marriage equality.

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Oregon-based Nike launches PAC with goal of legalizing marriage equality

Nike - sporting goods giant - launches new PAC to support passage of marriage equality in Oregon

Sporting goods giant Nike Inc. has recently created a political action committee with the specific goal of legalizing marriage equality in Oregon.

Nike’s statement issued Tuesday afternoon says:

Nike is fully supportive of the initiative to create marriage equality so our employees are treated fairly and with respect in the workplace and the community.

We are committed to diversity and inclusion and strive to treat our employees equally. We believe that diversity drives innovation and allows us to attract and retain world class talent. For Oregon businesses to attract and retain the best talent, we need fair and equitable laws that treat all Oregonians equally and prevent discrimination.”

To support the efforts to bring marriage equality to Oregon, Nike has created the Nike Equality PAC to help raise funds from Nike-affiliated donors in support of marriage equality. We chose to set up the Nike Equality PAC so that Nike, and its employees if they choose, have a specific avenue to support campaign efforts that are directly related to winning marriage equality in Oregon.

The PAC will give employees a specific avenue to support efforts, such as the Oregon United for Marriage campaign, that are directly related to winning marriage equality for the state. The Portland Business Journal notes that the company donated $100,000 to start the PAC, with its executives donating the remaining $180,000.

“Nike has just stood up for marriage equality in an unprecedented way, with a monumental financial contribution to support the Freedom to Marry and Religious Protection Initiative,” said Mike Marshall, campaign manager for Oregon United for Marriage. “Nike has been a leader for marriage equality, and this incredible move puts Nike out front among Oregon businesses who are taking a stand for winning the freedom to marry for Oregon’s same-sex couples. We are so proud and grateful for their generous support.”

The PAC begins with $280,000: A $100,000 contribution from Nike and another $180,000 from Nike executives.

Nearly 20 years ago, Nike was one of the first companies to extend benefits to same-sex couples.

In 2011, Nike was one of the 60 companies that filed an amicus brief opposing DOMA.

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Oregon: Ed and Warren – 42 years in love

Warren and Ed have been in love for 42 years. Isn't it time they are allowed to get married in Oregon?

In this touching video from Oregon United for Marriage, Ed and Warren take us through four decades of their relationship since they got together at the University of Oregon, bought their first home at age 24, and came to the place they are today.

Says Warren:

“I think I’d almost curl up in a ball and just wait to die if something happened to Warren. We love each other in Oregon. We met in Oregon. We’ve lived our lives together in Oregon.

“It’s time for us at age 64 to be married after 42 years. It’s time to make that leap of… Young people need to know that you can live for 42 years with another person and still be crazily in love. We want to be able to get married… It’s time.”

I agree with Warren.

Come on, Oregon.  Let’s get this done.

Forward.

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Oregon to recognize out of state same-sex marriages

According to Williamette Week, Oregon will now recognize legal same-sex marriages from out of state:

In a memo sent to all state agencies today, state Chief Operating Officer Michael Jordan says any gay couple who wed in a state where same-sex marriage is legal will now be eligible for the same benefits as any other married couple.

“Oregon agencies must recognize all out-of-state marriages for the purposes of administering state programs,” Jordan writes. “That includes legal, same sex marriages performed in other states and countries.”

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Oregon: Bigoted bakery owner decides to close up shop in the face of state discriminatory charges

Bakery owner Aaron Klein

Big crocodile tears for the bakery bigots in Oregon. They’ve decided to close up shop due to the ramifications of their discriminatory practices.

The Oregon cake shop that was investigated by state officials after refusing to fulfill an order by a lesbian couple has closed its doors, the Williamette Week reported.

According to a Facebook post on Friday, Sweet Cakes by Melissa’s store in Gresham, Oregon closed as of Saturday, with owners Aaron and Melissa Klein saying they would operate their business out of their home.

The Kleins were heavily criticized after refusing to serve a lesbian couple, citing their religious faith and opposition to marriage equality. Their stance made them the focus of not only demonstrations, but an investigation by the state Bureau of Labor and Industries to see if they violated a 2007 law banning discrimination based on sexual orientation.

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Oregon reaches one-third of petition signatures for marriage equality in only 12 days

The marriage equality kids in Oregon are NOT playing 🙂

After only 12 days of signature gathering, they are already at the one-third mark in terms of signatures needed:

According to Oregon Says I Do campaign spokeswoman Amy Ruiz, the campaign has already collected 42,000 of the 116,284 signatures needed to qualify for the November 2014 ballot.

She added that some 1,700 volunteers have collected roughly 90 percent of the signatures, with the rest coming from campaign staffers. Supporters have until next summer to collect the remaining signatures.

Using volunteers, Ruiz told The Oregonian, helps the campaign to build its organization.

If successful, the referendum would reverse the state’s 2004 voter-approved constitutional amendment limiting marriage to heterosexual couples and Oregon would make history as the first state to do so.

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Oregon couple attacked in hate crime over their dog’s coat color

Hillsboro police arrested George Mason, Jr. for a suspected hate crime that involved a man with a wrench attacking another man walking a pink poodle with his boyfriend.

The victim said he was walking with his boyfriend in the crosswalk when someone pulled up next to them and started yelling homophobic slurs, while also making fun of their dog named Beauty.

David Beltier said the man then got out of his SUV and started punching him in the face. The suspect then went back to his car and emerged with a foot-long metal wrench.

The man hit Beltier in the back of the head with the wrench.

“He was saying your poodle is a weird color and that’s just un-American and F-you, you f— and shouting,” said Jeremy Mark, the victim’s boyfriend.

His wife, Saraya Gardner, was charged with obstructing justice. Federal officials said she lied about Mason’s whereabouts to Hillsboro officers, and then further misled them when she repeatedly changed her story about the weapon used to strike the victim. She now faces prison time.

In addition to the hate crime charge, Mason was also charged with second-degree intimidation, second-degree assault, unlawful use of a weapon and reckless driving. 

KPTV – FOX 12

(via KPTV)

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Oregon: Baker under investigation after refusing wedding cake for lesbian couple

The state of Oregon is following up on a discrimination complaint from a lesbian couple who were refused service by a wedding cake baker.

The women claim Sweet Cakes owner Aaron Klein called the women “abominations to the Lord.” Klein denies saying that, but admits that he wouldn’t make the cake.

“I apologized for wasting their time and said we don’t do same-sex marriages,” he told the local media. I “honestly did not mean to hurt anybody, didn’t mean to make anybody upset, (it’s) just something I believe in very strongly.”

An Oregon statute bans sexual orientation discrimination in public accomodation, which includes businesses. The same law would apply had the baker refused to serve customers based on race or sex. But critics argue that could conflict with Klein’s constitutional right to practice his religion. The office of Oregon’s attorney general is now investigating the matter.

(source)

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Oregon elects first openly lesbian Speaker of the House

The Democratic majority in Oregon’s House of Representatives is set to name openly gay state Rep. Tina Kotek as their new leader tonight.

Openly gay leaders will control legislative chambers in five states, according to the AP, up from two before the election last week. Senator Ed Murray, who is openly gay, was elected majority leader in neighboring Washington this week, while Rep. Mark Ferrandino was elected Colorado House speaker.

Oregon’s KATU offers more from Kotek herself:

Kotek said she didn’t set out to break barriers but is honored to represent the gay community. It’s important for the gay community to have role models in leadership positions, she said.

“We all look for people out there who look like us,” she said.

“I have had emails and text messages from people who are very excited,” Kotek said. “I think any time you have a ‘first’ it’s an important thing for the community.”

Denis Dison from Victory Fund, the national organization that backs LGBT candidates, said Kotek and her peers are just the latest example of LGBT Americans’ inclusion in the legislative system.

“For many years we were building a bench of openly gay officials who could step into those roles, and now we’re seeing that around the country,” he said.