Lon Mabon Comes Out of the Closet With Another Anti-GLBT Ballot Initiative
First the short of it. Lon Mabon is back and swinging. He has filed an initiative nearly the same as 2000's Measure 9. This time he takes it a step further by including transgender people--an inclusion that likely means they will lead the campaign with a brutal and nasty anti-trans message.
Now the additional details.
Freshly out of jail, Lon Mabon, is bringing his dirty politics to Oregon's forefront again. 2000's Measure 9 is back. Initiating yet another anti-GLBT constitutional amendment, Mabon is seeking to fight the "gay agenda" with his own shady overtly extremist agenda: a constitutional amendment stating, "the behaviors of homosexuality and bisexuality pose a serious health risk to Oregon's students "therefore "it is hereby established that sexual orientation shall not be taught in Oregon public schools in any manner or whatsoever that would express approval of, endorse or otherwise make morally acceptable the behaviors of homosexuality, bisexuality or transgendered conduct." And note, that this measure is not specific to elementary or secondary education, but also would affect higher education in Oregon.
Mabon has also introduced a second measure designed to create a protective umbrella over hate-speech for homophobes and making schools and public institutions unsafe for the GLBT community. He asserts that freedom of speech should be defended even against hate-crime laws--creating what could be called the "no promo-homo" policy in public schools, all the way through college education.
Mabon himself is a fraud and a widely reviled figure, but that hasn't stopped him from relentlessly pursuing the "Mabon agenda"--an oppressive war on the GLBT population. But just because he is a disgusting, disreputable figure we shouldn't be lulled into the idea that this measure can't get on the ballot. Too many of us believed Measure 36 would never get on the ballot. Too many of us believed even after it did that the measure wouldn't pass. We can't believe that now. (And, if that doesn't concern you, check out the previous post about our opponents' extraordinary fundraising over the last year.)
Mabon has filed both measures for 2008, giving him plenty of time to collect signatures (a little over 75k needed) and his timing is also in line with the '08 presidential election.
I will again remind you that this initiative he has filed is a Constitutional Amendment (like Measure 36). This is just another blatant attempt to write hateful and discriminatory policies into the Oregon Constitution, and one that regardless of the source ought to be taken seriously. Oregon cannot and will not stand for this.
-Bryan Boyd, BRO Communications
Discussion welcomed and encouraged.
This entry was posted
on Thursday, May 18, 2006 at 10:51 AM.
Want to discuss? Leave a comment below.
ByI worry sometimes about the tone that BRO decides to take. I agree with every word as well as the sentiment, but I am not a swing voter. I would vote against anti-civil rights legislation no matter the rhetoric used by either side. Not everyone feels that way, though. And those are the people whose votes will be necessary to defeat this intiative.
I did not find myself all that surprised by the passing of Measure 36 due to some specific strategic choices made by the No on 36 Campaign. Rather than cite specifics and invite a tit for tat debate, I just ask that BRO consider the effect different strategies have on those people who would not be comfortable calling themselves pro-gay rights but nonetheless may vote against such a measure. Vitriolic and inflamatory language may reflect true emotion but is not convincing to those who are on the fence.
This is obviously a bad bill and I will do what I can in my small way to defeat it - but if this blog post represents the communication strategy BRO is choosing to use, we may find a repeat of the 2004 election. Surprise and disappointment at the success of the bad guys.
By
Through the years (at least those years when he wasn’t in jail) Lon has been one of our community’s biggest adversaries, but he’s also been one of our biggest advocates, in a way. He and his loony cronies can take much of the credit for helping everyday Oregonians understand what bigotry, hatred and ignorance looks like, and exactly why queer people need legal protections. Our success this time will come from (1) having and executing a strategy that’s clearly understood and supported by our full community and our allies, (2) focusing our public communications on a vision of equal rights for all, as much as on opposition to Lon’s bigotry, and (3) supporting BRO’s efforts with our own time, talent and $$$.
By
Lon Mabon back? All I can say is "Yipeeeeeee!!!!"
He was the best thing ever to happen to our community.
Before him, groups like PFLAG were represented by a few stragglers in the Pride Parade. After him, I remember the PFLAG convention taking up at least 3 full city blocks, packed like sardines, parents and other straight supporters (whom we need dearly). Before him, less than 10% of Oregon GLBT's were out of the closet. After him, more than 20% were out.
No one who has mobilized against us has had quite the power to get others, as well as ourselves, mobilized on our behalf. His despicable limelight will shed itself on anyone who agrees with his platform, and no amount of misguided religious piety will be able to mask the Lon Mabon inside all of the others. So, welcome back! We've missed ye!
By
Why are homosexuals so full of hate and anti-straight? Why do they continue to make efforts to force their agenda upon those that want nothing to do with it?
Voters in Oregon have already voted by a majority that we don't want same-sex marriage - yet the homosexual activists don't want to respect the will of the majority.
Homos are so full of hate. I wonder if my comment will be hatefully deleted?
By
so - how do we do the work of reaching out to our state and really explaining that building discrimination into law or policy is NOT the work ANY state or nation should be doing! we need to get this to a language/rhetoric of global civil rights and liberties - enjoyed equally by all. making is an issue of being a citizen in our state. not an issue of a minority population.
By
Good lord, won't this guy ever stop? While I'm very worried, at least this is a name and an enemy that Oregon voters have defeated many times in the past.
Let's fire it up....again.
By
I totally agree with "Anonymous" above. I want our community (and BRO) to always take the HIGH road � no matter how LOW the Mabons travel. We must communicate with the same compassion we expect from others. Poor choices of words and tone help incite intolerance in us, in our supporters, and in those who are riding the fence. In short, we reap what we sew. Perhaps a more positive piece by Bryan Boyd would not give so much fear and fodder to insecure people like "JustADog."
Mark Twain once said, "There is nothing so monstrous but what we can believe it of ourselves." If we must battle Mabon again, let us not tap into the monster in ourselves, but meet him with all of the integrity and compassion that make our community strong and forever resilient to the Mabons of the world.
By
Well, let it finally be said. There IS a 'gay agenda'. Full equality for GLBT people statewide. There you have it. Drink it in. Let it settle into the cracks of your own humanity. Now, those of you who think we are less becuase of who we love-you know who you are-to you I give full credit for what my community will accomplish. If it weren't for you, we would still be qietly accepting our 2nd class status - so...thanks be to you! We are going to be married and protected from discrimination once and for all and it is all because of you. The pendulum WILL swing the other way. Personally, I've grown tired of being attacked, used as a political pawn and treated diffently and I will not stop until I am married to the man I love with equal protections and benefits and am protected from the vile hatred so happily flung over the fence at GLBTQ people. Lon, you only have yourself to blame for the success-to-come of Oregon's GLBTQ community.
By
Really? I completely agree with Bryan's tone. I don't see a problem with it and here are three reasons.
People like JustaDog will always be that way. Being a blogger myself, I've read his posts and his message is disgusting.
Second, Lon Mabon has no credibilty in this state. Most of Oregon knows this, yes even outside of Portland. The guy just got out of jail! Give me a break!
Mabon is a joke, though we do need to take his initiatives seriously as we should any other initiative against our community.
It seems that when BRO is less vocal and very 'passive' people in our community get pissed that they aren't loud enough, and now people are mad about being too "loud". I don't get it.
Lastly, the campaign would be in 2008. This post has nothing to do with a campaign message.
So what do we do? We need to start rallying the troops. Measure 36 cost our community millions to fight it... I can't imagine the cost of another campaign.
By
Thanks Nancy. I couldn't agree with you more. It is great to see all this dialog. Keep it going.
BB
By
groan
Oh, Lon. I can't believe you're back.
While I don't think that these initiatives are cause for a full-scale alarm right *now*, it is critical that we keep an eye on them and fight them in their early stages of development to make sure they aren't viable for the 2008 ballot.
We *always* have to keep an eye on these guys. Who knows what they're cooking up next.
Remember waaaay back when we were fighting the first Measure 9? I was a young woman, fresh out of the closet and terrified by the potential implications of that measure.
I wasn't the only one who turned that fear and anger into action...Our community has come out and come together in a myriad of wonderful ways around these issues, every time they rear their ugly heads. Nothing unites like a common enemy, eh?
By
Fournier - first of all hi :)
I just wanted to point out that this issue isn't until the 2008 election, not '06.
-BB
By
When governments violate human rights, the rule of law ends. No sane human being maintains the rule of law when the law violates human rights. You owe no allegiance to such governments. Instead the Universal Declaration of Human Rights is quite specific that civil war is the end result.
By
Lon Maboon (sic) is a fool of the people. I will be against any legislation this mad man puts forth under any condition. Even if it is good for the state.
Chrissy Michelle Strawn
chrissy@ccfpdx.com
By
I used to be a lesbian, and worked to defeat Measures 9 and 13 when Lon Mabon specifically targeted me. Then I transitioned and was completely off the radar for a long time. No one recognized the existence of transguys, for better OR for worse. Now I'm on the BRO board, which is recognition for the better. And now I'm on Lon Mabon's hit list again, which is recognition for the worse. Wow - I feel marginalized just like I did when I was a lesbian. Hooray!
By
Saying it's "2000's Measure 9" is misleading. Measure 9 was really the Measure Once Again Known As 9, since before that we had the Measure Formerly Known As 9, the Son of 9 and the original Measure 9. That's right, sports fans: He's been running the same damn initiative over and over and over to the point that he got the same measure number twice!
By
True, he has run this same initiative more than once. The only difference this time is adding trans to it. The second initiative that has been filed is very sickening as well and I will do a post about that in more detail next week.
-BB
By
I've been fighting Lon Mabon and the OCA since the No on 9 campaign in 1992. As horrible as the OCA's efforts have been, they led me to learn how to work in a political movement at a young age.
We didn't defeat their other attempts only to let them take away our constitutional rights now.
The most successful political campaigns use a range of tactics, some moderate and some radical, that appeal to different audiences. Whatever we do, we need to work together and start soon.
By
Well out of prison or not Lon Mabon is and will always be a threat when he begins to rally, due to the ever present force of extreme right wing voters that still continue to think that he has merit. Sigh...unclear how ANYONE could think that but, people are strange sometimes. Granted many old supporters have decided he is too freaky to support, thank God, but So... I agree with previous posts that his presence also lights a fire under many of us to 'get involved' and to 'come out'. However we need to fight him early and fiercely. We need to continue, as a community to come out, talk to our friends, our families and give them the real information about what 'NOT teaching tolerance in the classroom' does to LGBT students, teachers, parents. Lets start early...and soundly defeat him in unity.
Peace, (from a lesbian teacher, lesbian parent, who deals daily with LGBT kids...)
Cath
By
I agree with the first comment here from 'anonymous' - I'm concerned about the tone. We can do better.
By
Just because Lon Mabon happens to be the community jester does not mean we shouldn't see him for what he really is. a dangerous represenitive of those who practice hatred and bigotry in our community.
As someone who faces raw hatred and threats in the work place daily
I can tell you the spirit of his form of bigotry is alive and prospering in Oregon as evidenced by my employers refusial to do anything to stop such behavior and protect those who commit these acts...
My employers shielding of bigoted employees is evidence that passive forms of bigotry do exist and is an active threat to all of us.
Lon Mabon has his finger on the pulse of this underground community of hatred and is intelligent enough to know that it is by this means he may be able to have his agenda become constitutional law...
Having to endure actual physical threat in the workplace on a daily basis has taught me that Oregons constitution already permits and protects such activities...
Perhaps it would be advisable to attack the Lon Mabons by making laws which provide for legal action against this type of behavior....
By
Briad Boyd wrote: "This is just another blatant attempt to write hateful and discriminatory policies into the Oregon Constitution"
It is also another blatant effort by Mabon to generate income for he and his wife. He just got out of jail, and no doubt needs work. At his age, and with the life he's led, it's doubtful he has any skills which could make him as much money as peddling more anti-GLBT ballot measures.
Oregon and Washington make it too easy to professionally peddle extremist legislation to the public - in the manner of a Mabon, Eyman, or Sizemore. It's time for Oregon to pass legislation requiring super-majorities on all ballot measures. Any issue important enough to bypass our elected representatives, is important enough to pass by more than a mere 50 percent plus one majority.
By
Wait, I'm confused. The BRO announcement in my email box about this issue says "this time including transgender Oregonians as an explicit target." But it looks like he's targeting all GLBTQ people, right?
Either way, he's obviously disgusting, but I think it seems to be that now he has included trans folks as part of his target, rather than targeted them, specifically.
By
It is true that Lon Mabon has motivated GLBT community in Oregon to come out and speak up. In the 1970's it was Anita Bryant who had the same effect on a national level. I have read polls that indicate the reason most people change their attitude toward members of our community. It is because they get to know one of us as a person. We are at that point not longer one of those people. We become a real human being, a friend, a neighbor, or a family member being treated unfairly. This interaction seems to bring out concern, loyalty, and compassion in others. When I encounter a person who is uninformed, prejudice, or has a narrow thought process I let that person get to know me as a person. After I have become a human being to them,I let them know I am a Lesbian, and how these laws will effect me, and other real people. I have watched many people change their minds, their votes, and they have shared the transformation with me. Some have even thanked me. This approach disarms people because usually they recognize their vote will violate a basic human value. Most people, religous, or not, beleive in treating others the way they want to be treated. When you help others to see their vote causes pain for people, and their children, a person who truly cares about their fellow human being, will often have a spiritual awakening. The person filled with hate will not be moved. But if there is even a glimmer of questioning their position you have planted a seed. Your job is done. Now the next person in our community, who they see as a real person, may be the one who is the catalyst to shift that mind change. We are change agents, one person at a time, and have a greater personal impact on people when we don't push something down their throat, that they are afraid of. Most people have been taught to be afraid of gays. We teach by our postive actions not to be afraid, and by giving them an opportunity to think about what it would be like, if they had to "walk a mile in our mocassins." We need to be the change we want to see in others. Information presented with caring, reassurance, and kindness will be our greatest weapon to overcome fear, misinformation, and a judgemental attitude. Lets all begin now.
By
Hello everyone,
I have somewhat of a legal question, I know this is probably not the best forum, but then again, this is the easiest way to hide my true connection.
My question is, lets say there is a man that a lot of people in a group really don't like, or at least disagree with his opinion. Now lets say he is somewhat of a coward, blasting people but then hiding in the shadows of the town. Now lets say, someone who is REALLY good with computers was to somehow get his home address, as well as a fairly accurate daily schedule of the target.....I mean individual. If for some reason after this info is posted on the net, some extremist was to kill him. Could the person who posted the personal info be held liable for that individiuls death?????
I am not saying I agree with threats or harm to another to get your way. But then again, how did the GOP manage to become a powerhouse.
Or on second thought we could use the GOP strategy. I like to call it the "BBB". "BBB" is Bullets, Bible, Bombs. First they kill a target to get people all riled up, the they use their little bibles to justify the death, and then if the turmoil is too much they drop bombs. Again I'm not suggesting an all out war, because that would only cause a civil war between straits and gays, or whatever group A and group B, but sometimes you do have to fight fire with fire.
By
Thank God for Lon Mabon and his leadership in protecting the good morality of the citizens of Oregon.
By
What I wish is that there would be a law that forbids people "categorizing" fragile beautiful dudes as gay, so they won't become pushed into that corner, etc. You know what I mean. Stop calling the pretty longhairs "faggots" and let them be who they are, which isn't really gay. Or telling a boy he is now gay because someone molested him. There's the crime!!! These are the tragic ones who aren't gay, but think they are bi because they act out with both sexes, they get aids, or commit suicide, have messed-up relationships etc....
WE need laws that prohibit the marginalization and false categorization of the pretty victims.
Otherwise, Lon, you have part of it right. Protect the kids so they won't be told to go where they don't need to. Keep them safe (and out of that high-risk corner where the predators want them so they can get fresh pretty meat).
Cobain and I talked about this, he knew and felt what I just said...love that boy...
peace
love
empathy
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