September 26, 2007
Oregon Bigots Expected to Meet Ballot Deadline
Deadline is today for signatures seeking votes on gay-rights laws
Today is the deadline for anti-gay-rights forces to submit petition signatures aimed at placing two newly approved gay-rights laws up for a public vote.
An assortment of conservative groups needs to submit two sets of 55,179 valid signatures to force referenda on a domestic partnership law, which granted marriage-style rights to same-sex couples, and a companion law that banned discrimination based on sexual orientation. The measures are scheduled to go into effect in January, but will be put on hold if the referenda qualify for the November 2008 ballot.
Brooks activist and former lawmaker Marylin Shannon, who is coordinating the referenda campaign, said her group had about 55,000 valid signatures as of Tuesday, but wanted an extra 15 percent buffer to make up for signatures deemed invalid. She was hoping activists would submit already-circulated petition sheets with 8,000 more signatures by today to get over the hump.
. . .
Gay-rights supporters have said all along they expect the referenda to qualify.
See also:
Oregon group running out of time to block pro-gay laws
Gays, allies mobilize to protect Oregon laws
Election Law Complaint Filed Over Anti-Gay Petition Gatherers
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Filed under: Election 2008, Employment/ENDA, Marriage Equality, Oregon, Radical Religious Right
