Oregon activists have established a campaign – Oregon United for Marriage – to drive a ballot initiative in November 2014.
The campaign, announced over the weekend by Basic Rights Oregon, will first organize a petition drive seeking the ballot question to legalize civil marriage in the state.
Rallying events are being planned in Medford, Pendleton, Grants Pass and Portland for the initiative, which would ask voters to amend the state constitution to guarantee marriage equality.
“We have been on the defensive for decades,” said Jeana Frazzini of Basic Rights Oregon. “Now we have momentum on our side.”
She noted the marriage equality victories at the polls in Maine, Maryland and neighboring Washington, as well as the defeat of an anti-gay amendment in Minnesota.
“Now is the time to expand this conversation to unite Oregon in support of the freedom to marry,” said Frazzini. “I'm excited about the opportunity for our stories to be told, our neighbors to be engaged, and new leaders to emerge.”
