SB1000: Frank Morse's Floor Speech
The following is the speech that Frank Morse made on the Senate floor last Friday as they passed SB1000.
"Recognizing the diversity of thought and strength of convictions on both sides of the issue of homosexuality, I offer my beliefs with conviction that Senate Bill 1000 is just and it is right.
For many, this is an issue of civil rights and properly interpreting Section 1, Article 20 of the Oregon Constitution. For most, however, it is a moral, religious issue. Often we look to the church as a moral compass for direction. What we find is tremendous diversity within the church.
For me, the answers to these questions arise from my own life experiences and convictions of what God has called me to be and do. It is, for me, these personal experiences and convictions that so clearly frame the issues before us.
Since becoming one of four chief sponsors of SB 1000, I have experienced the best from people and I have experienced the worst from people. I have experienced everything in between.
I have received beautiful heartfelt expressions of thanks from gays and lesbians and parents of children who are gay and lesbian. In contrast, our office received an ugly expression of hate from a caller who said, "We should do what the Bible says to do. We should take them out and stone them."
The relevant question of SB 1000 is, "Where should public policy fall along life's social continuum, where at the one pole there is hate and at the other pole there is acceptance?"
I recognize there are many for whom religious convictions create barriers to accepting homosexual relationships. For me however, the answer lies in defining destructive relationships, whether they be homosexual or heterosexual.
My first campaign piece was a mailing to all households and a full-page ad in the newspapers to inform voters what I believed. I said, "I believe that a person's sexual orientation is determined at birth and I fundamentally believe that in all relationships, we are called to treat one another with dignity, respect and love. These beliefs will guide me when legislative issues affecting gay rights arise."
A few days following the mailing, my wife Linda called her sister Joan and read to her what I had said in the mailing. Joan's response was, "You are not ready for this. You won't understand."
Linda, having a good idea what Joan was about to share, said that yes indeed, we are ready and we do understand.
And then, in a flood of tears, Joan proceeded to tell Linda about her son Bob, who is gay. The many years of silence were finally broken. While we had long suspected that Bob was gay, we never asked and it was never offered.
Joan then shared with Linda that many years ago, when Bob told his parents he was gay, he related the struggles he had coming to an understanding of his sexual orientation. He said, "It's not a lifestyle anyone would ever consciously choose for themselves, but it's who I am."
The reason I share this very personal experience is that it expresses so clearly and defines so succinctly the issue we are debating today. In a very close and loving family, why did my wife's sister and husband never mention their son's sexual orientation? Why did our nephew never mention his sexual orientation? I believe it was because they feared we would not understand, would not be tolerant, and would not accept.
The issue before us today is to first determine the space we personally choose to occupy on life's social continuum. Do we have hate in our hearts? Are we intolerant? Are we tolerant? Can we accept? From the depths of our convictions, let us cast a vote for acceptance."
Post by Bryan Harding
"Recognizing the diversity of thought and strength of convictions on both sides of the issue of homosexuality, I offer my beliefs with conviction that Senate Bill 1000 is just and it is right.
For many, this is an issue of civil rights and properly interpreting Section 1, Article 20 of the Oregon Constitution. For most, however, it is a moral, religious issue. Often we look to the church as a moral compass for direction. What we find is tremendous diversity within the church.
For me, the answers to these questions arise from my own life experiences and convictions of what God has called me to be and do. It is, for me, these personal experiences and convictions that so clearly frame the issues before us.
Since becoming one of four chief sponsors of SB 1000, I have experienced the best from people and I have experienced the worst from people. I have experienced everything in between.
I have received beautiful heartfelt expressions of thanks from gays and lesbians and parents of children who are gay and lesbian. In contrast, our office received an ugly expression of hate from a caller who said, "We should do what the Bible says to do. We should take them out and stone them."
The relevant question of SB 1000 is, "Where should public policy fall along life's social continuum, where at the one pole there is hate and at the other pole there is acceptance?"
I recognize there are many for whom religious convictions create barriers to accepting homosexual relationships. For me however, the answer lies in defining destructive relationships, whether they be homosexual or heterosexual.
My first campaign piece was a mailing to all households and a full-page ad in the newspapers to inform voters what I believed. I said, "I believe that a person's sexual orientation is determined at birth and I fundamentally believe that in all relationships, we are called to treat one another with dignity, respect and love. These beliefs will guide me when legislative issues affecting gay rights arise."
A few days following the mailing, my wife Linda called her sister Joan and read to her what I had said in the mailing. Joan's response was, "You are not ready for this. You won't understand."
Linda, having a good idea what Joan was about to share, said that yes indeed, we are ready and we do understand.
And then, in a flood of tears, Joan proceeded to tell Linda about her son Bob, who is gay. The many years of silence were finally broken. While we had long suspected that Bob was gay, we never asked and it was never offered.
Joan then shared with Linda that many years ago, when Bob told his parents he was gay, he related the struggles he had coming to an understanding of his sexual orientation. He said, "It's not a lifestyle anyone would ever consciously choose for themselves, but it's who I am."
The reason I share this very personal experience is that it expresses so clearly and defines so succinctly the issue we are debating today. In a very close and loving family, why did my wife's sister and husband never mention their son's sexual orientation? Why did our nephew never mention his sexual orientation? I believe it was because they feared we would not understand, would not be tolerant, and would not accept.
The issue before us today is to first determine the space we personally choose to occupy on life's social continuum. Do we have hate in our hearts? Are we intolerant? Are we tolerant? Can we accept? From the depths of our convictions, let us cast a vote for acceptance."
Post by Bryan Harding
This entry was posted
on Sunday, July 10, 2005 at 10:34 AM.
Want to discuss? Leave a comment below.
» Post a Comment