Initiative effort inches toward Sept. 26 cutoff

By JOHN FORTMEYER

CNNW publisher

    SALEM — Although recent reports in The Oregonian and the Portland Mercury gave a generally poor outlook for an effort by concerned Christians to halt Oregon’s new gay rights laws, there is fresh hope that a critical first step will be accomplished, say leaders of the campaign.
     That step is the securing of 55,179 valid signatures from Oregon voters to two petitions that are to be turned in to state officials by Wednesday, Sept. 26. That is the number required to place on the November 2008 state ballot proposals to overturn the laws passed earlier this year by the Legislature and signed by Gov. Ted Kulongoski.
     “Absolutely, it will take an effort all the way up to deadline day,” said former legislator Marilyn Shannon of Brooks. “But I believe we are going to make it.”
     Also expressing fresh but cautious optimism is Tigard resident David Crowe of Concerned Oregonians, who indicated in late August that there was increased momentum statewide. In an e-mail to campaign supporters, Crowe wrote that “the combination of direct mail, e-mail, radio interview and spots, and phone calls from (church) members, has awakened pastors and business people alike.
    “From Pendleton to Medford and points in between, it is becoming very clear that Oregonians, when they find out the Legislature has ignored their votes about marriage, and granted special rights where they should not have, they are eager to sign both petitions. Pastors and lay people alike are only now becoming more aware of what the Legislature has done in passing HB 2007 and SB 2.”
     Both Shannon’s group and Crowe’s are in a new and informal campaign coalition gathering the signatures. Also involved are members of Slavic churches throughout the Willamette Valley, and more recently, there is involvement by other denominations.
    “The Catholic Church and the Knights of Columbus have really stepped up to the plate,” said Shannon. “Also, the Assemblies of God.”
     Contrary to earlier reports, The Constitution Party of Oregon is not part of the coalition, although individual members of that party are on their own getting involved in the campaign.
     Those behind the coalition say the initiative try is necessary because they see the two new gay rights laws an an affront to the majority of Oregonians, particularly HB 2007, which they say ignores and rejects the will of the people of Oregon as clearly demonstrated in 2004 with Measure 36.
     In that 2004 vote, Oregonians by a 57 to 43 percent margin determined that marriage is between a man and woman only. Coalition members say that vote did not mean Oregonians were in favor of same-sex “civil unions” or “domestic partnerships.”
     Meanwhile, Basic Rights Oregon, the state’s largest gay rights group, told The Oregonian that the initiative campaign is being pursued by “a few individuals” who are out of step with the values of most Oregonians.
     Last month, the Salem Statesman-Journal reported that a new gay-rights group called Know Thy Neighbor (knowthyneighbor.org) plans to publicize the names of everyone who signs the petitions.
     In his e-mail, Crowe alleges that the new group plans to publicize signers’ addresses as well. If so, the opponents of the initiatives are making a big mistake in strategy that could backfire on them, said Crowe.
    “Americans dislike tactics of fear and intimidation.,” he wrote. “It smacks of Nazi Germany, Stalin, Mao, Arafat, and fanatical Islam, and is the harbinger of things to come. Such an announcement supports the common view that this determined special interest group will stop at nothing to force our acceptance not only of their behavior, but our compliance to their wishes and world view.”
     Crowe said two large churches, one in Portland and one in Salem, along with many other smaller churches from Hermiston to Grants Pass, have requested petitions in recent weeks.
      He and Shannon also pointed out that petition gatherers aimed to collect many thousands of signatures in a booth at the Oregon State Fair in Salem from Aug. 24 to Sept. 3, and also outside the Salem Riverfest evangelistic event at Riverfront Park Sept. 22 and 23.
      Also very active right now, said Shannon, is a effort by young Russian Christians called “Reclaim the Vote” in support of the initiative campaign.
The bottom line, said Shannon, is that the initiative drive is in God’s hands as the deadline later this month looms.
     “We’re all prayer warriors that just felt like we needed to do something,” she said. “If there is ever a time to step up and be counted, this is the time.”
      For information on the initiative campaign or to request petitions, phone 1-800-355-7047, or go to www.concernedoregonians.com or www.letoregonvote.org. Completed petitions can be sent to 15685 S.W. 116th Ave., PMB 299, King City, OR 97224.