Washington Judge saves woman from herself!

Earlier this month a judge overturned a woman's divorce from her abusive, jailed, husband after the judge discovered that the woman was pregnant. "There's a lot of case law that says it is important in this state that children not be illegitimate," the Superior Court Judge Paul Bastine told The Spokesman-Review newspaper on the subject.

The judge saved the child from being born a bastard, apparently. Nevermind, that the baby's daddy beats his mommy.

Perhaps when more of these stories come along -- and there is everything to suggest that there will be -- more people will begin to see the unfairness of a system which doesn't treat everyone with respect and dignity for their personal choices.

Equality for All - 12/15 Gathering at Salem

On December 15, 2004 the Oregon Supreme Court will be meeting to hear arguments in Li v. State of Oregon on the issue of same-sex marriage, and people who are taking a stand for equality are meeting in a peaceful gathering in front of the Oregon State Supreme Court building from Noon - 3PM in a show of support for full equality in marriage.

Stand for Equality
Date: Wednesday December 15, 2004
Place: Oregon State Supreme Court
Address: 1163 State Street, Salem OR
Time: Noon - 3PM

Get a map here.

Download 'Stand for Equality' flier (PDF 64kb)

Spread the word in your community about the 'Stand for Equality' event and bring signs with you to carry or any other demonstrations of equality and unity.

Equality in marriage: Outlawed in Oregon

Yesterday, marriage equality in Oregon was officially outlawed because voters in Oregon chose to exclude some Oregonians from equal treatment by passing Measure 36 on November 2, 2004. But this setback is not one which those who believe that freedom for all means all, will stand for because marriage is far too important for both individuals and our society.

And civil unions are not the answer to what has been laid at the feet of Oregon's LGBT community. They are both separate and unequal, contracts which do not afford all the rights, privileges and responsibilities of marriage, and which can be invalidated merely by traveling across the state's border (from Portland to Vancouver, for example).

And anyone who considers them a good next step towards marriage, should look to Vermont which has had civil unions for five years now, with marriage equality nowhere in sight.

- - -

On December 15, 2004 the Oregon Supreme Court will be meeting to hear arguments in Li V. State of Oregon, and people who stand for equality are meeting in front of the Oregon State Supreme Court building from Noon - 3PM in a show of support for full equality in marriage.


Equality for All
Date: December 15, 2004
Place: Oregon State Supreme Court
Address: 1163 State Street, Salem OR
Time: Noon - 3PM

Get a map here.

Please bring signs that express your opinions on the importance of equality, such as:

"Civil Unions are separate and unequal."
"We are second class citizens."
"Freedom for all, means all."

But these are just a few suggestions, please use your own imagination about what equality in marriage means to you, and the importance of the equal treatment of all Oregonians.

Marriage leads to abortion?

A sad turn of events in the fight against marriage in Oregon: "Right to Life Oregon" -- a group which lobbies against a woman's right to choose -- is attempting to attach their issues with abortions to same-sex marriage.

In an outrageous attack on the life-affirming act of marriage, "Right to Life Oregon" has mailed a flyer to thousands of Oregonians which states that extending marriage to all Oregonians will lead to more abortions.

Here's their flyer, posted on the NoOn36.com web site.

It is hard to understand how the values of marriage -- commitment, stability, fidelity, community -- could not be supported by those who state in their own policies:

Our commitment to the well-being of all human life requires that we respect the inherent value and dignity of all people.

Apparently Gay Oregonians do not meet the test of 'all human life.'

Oregon's Superintendent: 'Our schools have nothing to do with Measure 36.'

Supporter's of Constitutional Amendment Measure 36 are now using school children in an attempt to get the measure passed in Oregon on November 2nd -- and stop the conversation among all Oregonians on the issue of same-sex marriage.

"They have no business using our public schools as part of this campaign," Schools Superintendent Susan Castillo said Tuesday. "Our schools have nothing to do with this measure. They are trying to create some sort of fear in our schools related to sexual orientation." (Source: The Oregonian, 10/19/2004)

David Crowe, founder of Restore America, says that Oregon's Superintendent of Public Schools does not know what she is talking about:

"There is plenty of information out there, plenty of evidence to show that even right now, homosexuality is being encouraged in our school systems," Crowe said.

When asked, Crowe said he could not immediately cite any specific instances in Oregon. [Emphasis ours.]

"The point is, this is what will come if Measure 36 does not pass," he said.

In fact, there are no state statutes that require districts to teach on such topics, said David Conley, an education professor at the University of Oregon.

"There is nothing in state statute that even remotely implies that schools would have to teach a specific curriculum around those issues," Conley said. (Source: The Oregonian, 10/19/2004)

"...really just one more example of some of the overreaching on the part of folks that support this measure." Read the entire article at OregonLive.com.