Posted: Monday, November 2, 2009
PORTLAND, OR - Basic Rights Oregon is laying groundwork for a
ballot initiative aimed at overturning Oregon's same sex marriage
ban. April Baer reports.
No one's out on the street gathering signatures yet, but Basic Rights
Oregon says it will start informational campaigning this week, with
an eye on the 2012 election or later. Organizers hope to repeal the
ballot measure that banned same-sex marriage in 2004. BRO's
executive director Jeanna Frazzini.
Frazzini: "For too long, this issue has only been discussed in the heat
of a campaign, and that's really no time to start a calm, heartfelt
conversation about why marriage is so important to so many
people."
Foes of gay marriage, who organized to pass Measure 36 five years
ago have indicated they'd regroup to fight such an initiative when
the time comes.
Frazzinni says her group is keeping an eye on the results of
Washington's Referendum 71, which will affirm or nulify that state's
expanded gay rights.
Copyright 2009 Oregon Public Broadcasting