tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-89455902009-02-21T01:28:59.697-08:00K Fishhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00803006283303626964noreply@blogger.comBlogger263125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8945590.post-66526974229567432732007-11-06T15:26:00.000-08:002007-11-06T15:41:00.138-08:00

From now on, we'll be posting at the new blog at www.basicrights.org. Please join us over there.Thanks!

K Fishhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00803006283303626964noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8945590.post-24002592320161432832007-09-26T17:57:00.000-07:002007-09-26T18:00:07.271-07:00

Amid reports that their efforts to roll back Oregon's new anti-discrimination laws were faltering, anti-gay activists today turned in barely enough signatures to meet the 55,179 minimum required by the Secretary of State to force a referendum on the laws. Because of likely duplications and other errors by signature gatherers, it is too early to tell whether the effort was successful."We are

Bryan Boydnoreply@blogger.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8945590.post-48936925643693198492007-08-14T17:03:00.000-07:002007-08-14T17:08:13.987-07:00

I'm writing today with an update about the efforts by anti-gay groups to force a public vote on our new Basic Fairness laws. I’m also writing with a simple message: We absolutely must not underestimate our opponents.As you know, opposition groups have pledged to bring both the Oregon Equality Act and the Oregon Family Fairness Act to a public vote on the November 2008 ballot. Last week we asked

Bryan Boydnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8945590.post-16451637843072406612007-07-11T15:11:00.000-07:002007-07-11T16:43:37.704-07:00

Wasco County Court Unanimously Approves Anti-Discrimination Ordinance Wasco County answers moral call to treat all it's residents with fairness and dignity--barring discrimination based on sexual orientation and gender identity(Portland, Oregon) Today the Wasco County Court voted unanimously to ban discrimination based on sexual orientation and gender identity. In doing so, Wasco County becomes

Bryan Boydnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8945590.post-73782467482212326152007-07-11T13:14:00.000-07:002007-07-11T13:54:42.633-07:00

Basic Rights Education Fund Launches Statewide Public Education Campaign: 50 Voices for EqualityFrom Faith Leaders and Elected Officials to Parents and Business Leaders, Fifty Straight Oregonians Speak Out About Fairness for Gays and Lesbians(Portland, Oregon) Today, Basic Rights Education Fund, the 501(c)(3) arm of Basic Rights Oregon, launched a large-scale statewide education campaign,

Bryan Boydnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8945590.post-2504107765976940542007-06-21T10:53:00.000-07:002007-06-21T11:26:27.364-07:00

Today, Thursday, June 21st, you will have the amazing opportunity to eat out at any of over 70 establishments in Oregon and 15% of the proceeds will go directly to Basic Rights Oregon to help defend Oregon's new basic fairness laws. That's right! Bites for Rights is here! You can eat lunch, dinner or even go to happy hour at one of the over 70 establishments and you will be supporting equality!!

Bryan Boydnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8945590.post-37924761169788680012007-06-20T15:01:00.000-07:002007-06-20T15:05:34.235-07:00

Legislation to legalize same-sex marriage in New York, supported by Gov. Eliot Spitzer, was approved 85-61 by the state Assembly Tuesday after an often emotional three-hour debate. Despite the victory for supporters of the legislation, the bill is not expected to be acted on any time soon in the Republican-led state Senate.Read the entire story here.

Bryan Boydnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8945590.post-31439496521937590742007-05-15T16:52:00.000-07:002007-05-16T16:39:14.647-07:00

That was the headline in today's Oregonian and unfortunately, it's true. Together we won tremendous gains toward equality at the Legislature, and together we can - and will - protect those rights at the ballot. But we cannot do it alone. The Oregon Family Fairness Act and The Oregon Equality Act together seek to ensure fundamental fairness for all Oregonians and their families, but a vocal

Bryan Boydnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8945590.post-87742566912984312822007-05-09T14:40:00.000-07:002007-05-09T19:12:44.679-07:00

Today marks a landmark victory for Oregonians and their families. Senate Bill 2 and House Bill 2007 will become law January 1, 2008.View our press release here.

Bryan Boydnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8945590.post-758444657726418702007-05-02T16:28:00.000-07:002007-05-03T12:53:06.947-07:00

Voted for HB 2007 and in favor Oregon families:Brad  Avakian-DAlan  Bates-DKate  Brown-DGinny  Burdick-DMargaret  Carter-DPeter  Courtney-DRyan  Deckert-DRichard  Devlin-DAvel  Gordly-IBetsy  Johnson-DRick  Metsger-DLaurie  Monnes Anderson-DRod  Monroe-DBill  Morrisette-DFrank  Morse-RDavid  Nelson-RFloyd  Prozanski-DKurt  Schrader-DJoanne  Verger-DVicki  Walker-DBen  Westlund-DVoted Against

Bryan Boydnoreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8945590.post-29743266890224968102007-05-01T23:21:00.000-07:002007-05-03T12:50:12.651-07:00

11:38am HOUSE BILL 2007 PASSES 21-9!!!11:37am Vote begins.11:35am When nature calls...11:35am Here it goes. Oh - looking for a missing Senator.11:33am ROLL CALL.11:32am CALL OF THE SENATE. VOTE ABOUT TO BEGIN.11:32am Sen. Burdick has 7:30 left to speak.11:31amHB 2007 is landmark for all oregonians. With this legislation we say that Oregon values all families. With this legislation we are telling

Bryan Boydnoreply@blogger.com14tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8945590.post-68065971426528258792007-05-01T13:03:00.000-07:002007-05-01T13:05:23.192-07:00

Just a reminder that BRO Staff will be blogging live from the Senate vote on our Domestic partnerships bill (HB 2007). Blogging will start around 10:15am.

Bryan Boydnoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8945590.post-41104481156943577812007-04-25T13:31:00.000-07:002007-04-25T13:32:39.926-07:00

Aisling Coghlan, Interim Executive Director of Basic Rights Oregon, issued the following statement today in reaction to the recent comments by Oregon State Representative Dennis Richardson (R- Central Point) in a weekly newsletter to his district. In the newsletter, Richardson made a reprehensible comparison between the massacre at Virginia Tech last week and the passage of a Domestic Partnership

Bryan Boydnoreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8945590.post-9114070269626153342007-04-24T11:11:00.000-07:002007-04-24T11:31:58.430-07:00

After the huge success of the first annual STRUT Fashion show in 2006 (photos), 2007's show is ready to blow it out of the water.This year's event in on Friday, May 11, 7pm @ The Wonder Ballroom,128 NE Russell in PortlandThe designers include:Jonny Shultz Designswww.jonnyshultzdesigns.comRachel Mara www.rachelmara.comLeAnimal www.leanimal.comWema Designs www.wemadesigns.comSameunderneath

Bryan Boydnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8945590.post-9575631704189141602007-04-23T13:19:00.000-07:002007-04-23T14:48:57.194-07:00

Fellow Oregonians, today we ask you to take 60 seconds of your day to use our online advocacy tool to tell your Oregon State Senator to vote YES on House Bill 2007, the Domestic Partnership bill.60 seconds of your time can go a very long way. Please click here to send them an email of support.Tell your friends!

Bryan Boydnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8945590.post-58778620786780281892007-04-19T10:15:00.000-07:002007-04-19T12:12:19.954-07:00

12:15There have been a lot of questions about when these two bills, once law would go into effect. Please go to www.basicrights.org and sign up for our e-newsletter (on the left hand side of the home page). We will be sending out a newsletter today (Thursday) explaining what's next.Thanks to everyone!11:05amThat's it folks. Basically no debate. Painless. Senate Bill 2 has passed all hurdles. As

Bryan Boydnoreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8945590.post-40451764495222963472007-04-18T20:32:00.000-07:002007-04-18T20:34:41.061-07:00

Don't you worry! We'll be blogging LIVE tomorrow from the Senate Floor as debate happens and as the vote occurs!

Bryan Boydnoreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8945590.post-89634523870303118072007-04-17T09:44:00.000-07:002007-04-17T18:32:44.381-07:00

1:51PMOutside of the House Majority Leader's office supporters are gathered to celebrate this historic moment. Speaker Merkley, Majority Leader Hunt, Rep. Rosenbaum, Rep. Macphearson, and Rep. Kotek all gave a few remarks before supporters relaying their excitement over the passages of HB2007 and SB2. Majority Leader Hunt mentioned that this is a great moment in our history and giant stride on

Bryan Boydnoreply@blogger.com18tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8945590.post-1174598340412523982007-03-22T15:14:00.000-07:002007-03-22T15:27:33.266-07:00

Queer & Trans students come together to build community and break down barriersBy Jessica Lee - Basic Rights Oregon Youth OrganizerBasic Rights Oregon and the Oregon Student Equal Rights Alliance (OSERA) partnered to host the first statewide queer and trans students of color gathering in February, 2007. This event was part of Basic Rights Oregon's Youth Organizing Project, and conducted as part

Bryan Boydnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8945590.post-1173134003998288142007-03-05T14:20:00.000-08:002007-03-05T14:47:49.796-08:00

Just an update on Lon Mabon's two ballot initiatives for 2008. Both have just been approved by the Oregon Secretary of State for circulation. Meaning they can begin to gather signatures. Read below for information on these hateful attempts by Mabon and his ilk...From our Feb. 1 Newsletter:Just When You Thought He Was Done... For all you who thought Lon Mabon had shuffled away with his tail

Bryan Boydnoreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8945590.post-1169513550673447052007-01-22T16:46:00.000-08:002007-01-22T16:53:43.553-08:00

Two dedicated Oregon queer political activists, Kristin Flickinger and Laura Calvo are candidates running for seats on the National Stonewall Democrats Board of Directors. Both are also longtime, super volunteers for Basic Rights Oregon.The National Stonewall Democrats is a grassroots network connecting LGBT Democratic activists from across the United States. With more than 90 chapters across the

Bryan Boydnoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8945590.post-1167762023372546142007-01-02T10:12:00.000-08:002007-01-02T10:20:23.393-08:00

With only hours left in the day, Massachusetts legislators will decide to either vote on referring gay marriage to the ballot or to not vote on it at all. Many in the chamber are not wanting to vote on it--stating, "This is the first time that the petition process has ever been used to consider reinserting discrimination into the constitution."From MassLive.com:Lawmakers are scheduled to meet in

Bryan Boydnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8945590.post-1166736222732926562006-12-21T13:21:00.000-08:002006-12-21T14:36:19.856-08:00

Basic Rights Oregon applauded the recommendations of the Governor's Task Force on Equality contained in a report made public by Governor Kulongoski today. The report summarizes the work of the Task Force this year and recommends two major changes to State policy: State law should prohibit discrimination based on sexual orientation and gender identity and should provide a framework for legal

Bryan Boydnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8945590.post-1165525488197582572006-12-07T13:02:00.000-08:002006-12-07T13:04:48.200-08:00

Following our community's historic victories in the 2006 Election Cycle, Basic Rights Oregon is now in the midst of strategizing, planning and prioritizing for our next fight in the Oregon Legislature in 2007 to push for pro-equality legislation. Your thoughts and feedback are a critical part of that process. Only 130 people have completed our survey so far. If you haven't given your thoughts and

Bryan Boydnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8945590.post-1165525367650162732006-12-07T13:01:00.000-08:002006-12-07T13:08:08.176-08:00

Last weekend more than 80 activists gathered at the University of Oregon for Basic Rights Oregon's 2nd Statewide Leadership Summit. Key activists from Western, Central, Southern and Coastal Oregon made the trek to Eugene. The day started off with an opening from Eugene Mayor Kitty Piercy, followed by the Voices From the Field panel. This showcased the diversity and realm of work being done in

Bryan Boydnoreply@blogger.com0