Gordon Smith, please dial 503-986-1200
In his 2002 re-election campaign, Gordon Smith was endorsed by a number of gay rights leaders. Later, he pledged to support civil unions at the state level.
Sen. Gordon Smith, a Republican, has supported legislation to protect gays from hate crimes. He said he would back a constitutional amendment defining marriage as between a man and a woman if it clearly gave states the right to create civil unions, which give gays some of the legal benefits of marriage. –Statesman-Journal, 3/15/04
So, here's the question: Gordon Smith, will you call Speaker Karen Minnis and demand an up-or-down vote on civil unions? Will you put your principles ahead of politics?
From the Democratic Party of Oregon:
“Gordon Smith should spend five minutes of his day to pick up the phone or declare publicly that Karen Minnis needs to grant an up-or-down vote on the most important legislation for gays and lesbians in the history of Oregon,” said Jim Edmunson, Chairman of the Democratic Party of Oregon. “This is a test of Gordon Smith’s true leadership on these issues.”
Discuss.
As for the rest of you, feel free to call 503-326-3386 yourself and ask Gordon Smith to call Karen Minnis.
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August 3, 2005 |
open discussion | Comments (3 so far)
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Comments
Posted by: Bryan Harding | Aug 3, 2005 3:51:19 PM
As Margaret Carter would say "Aye Aye Aye!"
Posted by: Don Saxton | Aug 25, 2005 10:09:26 PM
I Agree,Kelly and Bryan!!
Senator Smith did run on the belief that he was Compassionate towards Gays and Lesbians- the time for him to prove it is now!!!! It is a shame that though Measure 36 did not exclude "Civil Unions", The GOP in the Oregon Legislature, led by Karen Minnis will not allow a Vote on the subject.
NO One is truly free while any group of our Society is discriminated against!!! I hear the Cry, "We MUST protect the Sanctity of Marriage!!"---I Have a Wonderful IDEA- How about we tighten up the Laws concerning Divorce??? I've never been hit upon by any of my openly gay friends, and I feel they have the right to the legal protections and rights anyone receives in a relationship.
I fail to see where giving Gays the same Rights and protections would weaken Traditional Marriage!!!
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Posted by: Kelly Steele | Aug 3, 2005 1:41:19 PM
This is very much about principle over politics. I encourage folks to read Jim's letter to Senator Smith and consider the gravity of this situation, as it relates to Gordon Smith's public service.
This is a man spent who spent hundreds of thousands of dollars on television successfully marketing himself as "compassionate" due to his support for gay rights.
This is a man who is - far and away - the most influential Republican in this state.
He is on Congressional recess and is here in Oregon -- right this second. And he's an Oregon citizen with a hefty stake in the laws of this state.
If Gordon Smith can't stand up at this critically-important moment in Oregon's history -- and publicly say he supports equality under the law for gays and lesbians -- when can he? We can't wait until his next re-election campaign in 2008.
For Oregonians that truly support gay rights, the time to stand up and be counted is now.