Uploaded January 2021 | Updated September 2026, 1 week ago
In May on 2007 the Oregon State Legislature passed a domestic partnership law for same sex couples, scheduled to go into effect on January 1, 2008. Opponents immediately set about collecting the signatures necessary to put this law to a vote of the people.
When this referendum failed to gather the necessary signatures, the Alliance Defense Fund of Scottsdale, Arizona brought suit before a Federal Judge, complaining that state and county elections officials wrongly disqualified their signatures on these petitions seeking to force a statewide election on the law November 4.
Judge Michael Mosman first ordered a 32 day stay on the law and heard the case on February 2, 2008, ruling that the State could begin to register same sex couples who choose to enter into domestic partnership as early as the following Monday.
Prior to the court hearing, On January 30, over 2000 people rallied in Portland Oregon at Terry Schrunk Plaza to voice their outrage at the machinations of this out of state organization and pledge their support to defend these basic rights for all Oregon citizens.
Speakers from the Gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender (GLBT) Community spoke eloquently and forcefully that the right to choose ones partner is a basic human right and that same sex couples are no different from any other family in this need.
All Oregon families should have access to both the rights and the responsibilities that legal recognition of a relationship brings. Legal recognition for families keeps children safe in the event of a crisis, brings financial and emotional security, and strengthens our total community as a whole.
The event was expertly moderated by representatives from Basic Rights Oregon and Portland Q Center. Some of the speakers included Former Governor Barbara Roberts, State Representative Tina Kotek, the testimonies of couples denied their basic human rights, Ministers, a Portland State University student equal rights advocate and the proud African American parents of a gay son.
Though the decision did eventually go their way, the battle is not over as the Alliance Defense Fund will surely appeal, and probably attempt another signature gathering referendum.
This is a one hour video of the event, including contact information for the various groups involved and ways in which viewers may assist in this struggle.
Producer: Jim Lockhart
In May on 2007 the Oregon State Legislature passed a domestic partnership law for same sex couples, scheduled to go into effect on January 1, 2008. Opponents immediately set about collecting the signatures necessary to put this law to a vote of the people.
When this referendum failed to gather the necessary signatures, the Alliance Defense Fund of Scottsdale, Arizona brought suit before a Federal Judge, complaining that state and county elections officials wrongly disqualified their signatures on these petitions seeking to force a statewide election on the law November 4.
Judge Michael Mosman first ordered a 32 day stay on the law and heard the case on February 2, 2008, ruling that the State could begin to register same sex couples who choose to enter into domestic partnership as early as the following Monday.
Prior to the court hearing, On January 30, over 2000 people rallied in Portland Oregon at Terry Schrunk Plaza to voice their outrage at the machinations of this out of state organization and pledge their support to defend these basic rights for all Oregon citizens.
Speakers from the Gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender (GLBT) Community spoke eloquently and forcefully that the right to choose ones partner is a basic human right and that same sex couples are no different from any other family in this need.
All Oregon families should have access to both the rights and the responsibilities that legal recognition of a relationship brings. Legal recognition for families keeps children safe in the event of a crisis, brings financial and emotional security, and strengthens our total community as a whole.
The event was expertly moderated by representatives from Basic Rights Oregon and Portland Q Center. Some of the speakers included Former Governor Barbara Roberts, State Representative Tina Kotek, the testimonies of couples denied their basic human rights, Ministers, a Portland State University student equal rights advocate and the proud African American parents of a gay son.
Though the decision did eventually go their way, the battle is not over as the Alliance Defense Fund will surely appeal, and probably attempt another signature gathering referendum.
This is a one hour video of the event, including contact information for the various groups involved and ways in which viewers may assist in this struggle.
Producer: Jim Lockhart
