OREGON Republican Party leading anti-equality campaign

Oregon's state Republican Party on April 3 asked the state legislature to place an amendment against marriage equality on the November ballot. [See The Oregonian, 5 April 2004: http://www.oregonlive.com/special/gaymarriage/ ]

Fascists have been trying to qualify this amendment by gathering signatures from voters, but they might fail to get enough by their July 2 deadline. The legislature, meeting in a special June session to discuss tax reform, could rescue the anti-marriage amendment at the last minute. Political moods in the Oregon legislature may be shaped by events in April and May, including (a) possible April hearings and rulings by Judge Frank Bearden in Multnomah County Circuit Court; (b) results of Oregon's primary election, May 18; and (c) same-sex marriage news from other states, especially from Massachusetts.

Amazingly, the Portland Marry-In still continues (as of April 6), having already lasted longer than the historic San Francisco Marry-In. If any U.S. same-sex couples want to marry, Portland (Multnomah County) offers their best opportunity. [Sure, the Massachusetts Marry-In MIGHT begin in mid-May; but many out-of-state couples will be unfairly denied equal rights in Mass., because their home states ban same-sex marriages. For Mass. updates, go to Boston Globe: http://www.boston.com/news/specials/gay_marriage/]

Meanwhile in Oregon, Ralph Nader will be circulating petitions to get himself on the November ballot. His deadline is in August.

For upcoming events in California, April 6 thru 15, please see below.


-- SaveFreedom [at] yahoogroups.com
Tuesday morning, 6 April 2004
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PS 1: [Personal comment by Tortuga Bi Liberty: When Nader tells you there's no difference between the Republican and Democratic parties, please remember the homophobic Oregon Republican Party.
In terms of civil rights, civil liberties, and the environment, the Democrat mule inches forward, balking and back-sliding, with infuriating slowness; while the Republican elephant tries to gallop backward.
I don't consider myself a Democrat; but I'm hoping Kerry can evict Bush/Cheney from the White House. ]

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PS 2:
CALIFORNIA events: April 6 thru 15:


CALIF: Oakland: Tuesday, 6 April, 6-8pm: OAKLAND City Council Meeting, City Hall,
Frank Ogawa Plaza, downtown Oakland. If you plan to speak during
public forum, please arrive by 6:15 pm to complete a speaker's card.
Council member Danny Wan will introduce resolution in support of AB 1967,
the "Marriage License Non-Discrimination Act."

CALIF: SF: 10 April , Sat: drum circle, Hippy Hill, Golden Gate Park, around 3pm. Free. Informal.

*CALIF: San Francisco: Monday, 12 April, noon -1pm: MarriageEqualityCA rally, on steps of CA Supreme
Court, 300 McAllister Street (across from SF City Hall): marking one month since high court
ordered SF officials to stop issuing same-sex mariage licenses.

CALIF, southern: West Hollywood: April 12, Monday, 6:30-9:30pm: discuss same-sex marriage:
West Hollywood Park Auditorium, San Vicente Blvd.

USA: April 15: Protest inequality, with signs saying: "NO TAXATION without equal rights!"

CALIF: Oakland: Thursday, 15 April, 5:30pm: MECA Tax Day Protest.
For details, see MECA website: http://www.MarriageEqualityCA.org/home.php
[ Earlier on Tax Day, at 11:30 AM, antiwar protesters gather at Oakland's Federal Building,
1301 Clay St. (near 12th Street BART station): see DASW (http://www.ActAgainstWar.org)
and Northern Calif. War Tax Resistance (http://www.NoWarTax.org) ]

CALIF, southern: Los Angeles area: April 15, Thursday, evening: MECA protest/rally on Tax Day:
"We need to rally in support of marriage equality on this day: No Taxation with Discrimination! ....
We'll be joining other rallies nationwide..... " http://www.MarriageEqualityCA.org/home.php

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