Basic Rights Oregon Endorses Jeff Merkley for U.S. Senate
This morning Basic Rights Oregon weighed in on the U.S. Senate race between Jeff Merkley and Steve Novick. Basic Rights Oregon announced that it has endorsed Jeff Merkley for U.S. Senate in Oregon's Democratic Primary.
"Jeff Merkley has been a strong ally on issues important to the lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender community," said Basic Rights Oregon Executive Director Jeana Frazzini. "As House Speaker, Jeff led the charge on passing Oregon's domestic partnership law, giving committed couples the legal recognition they need to care for one another in a crisis. And he championed a nondiscrimination law ensuring that no one in Oregon can lose their home or be fired from their job just because they are gay or lesbian. We need a fighter like Jeff Merkley in the U.S. Senate."
The endorsement decision was made by a vote of the organization's Board of Directors on the basis of written questionnaires and in-person interviews with the two major candidates.
Frazzini said Merkley's record makes him the clear choice in the race. "Jeff's leadership brings people together to do what's right for Oregon," she said.
On another note today is BRO's Executive Director, Jeana Frazzini's birthday. Happy birthday Jeana!
Labels: basic rights oregon, endorsement, oregon
This entry was posted
on Tuesday, April 08, 2008 at 9:24 AM.
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ByMy favorite story about Jeff Merkley fighting for what matters was his unrelenting pursuit of equality for LGBT families in the legislature. In 2005 when Merkley and the Democrats were in the minority. The then Speaker Karen Minnis use an underhanded rule change to keep Merkley from bringing a Civil Unions bill to the floor and passing it less than a year after the state banned gay marriage. Merkley wouldn’t take Minnis’ flack and refused to stop questioning the rule change despite being gaveled down and ruled out of order by Minnis. Karen Minnis then cut off his mic on the House floor and threatened to have state troopers remove him. But Merkley kept right on fighting and in 2007 won passage of historic legislation for protecting basic rights and domestic partnerships.
On the campaign trail he was the only candidate to vocally oppose Southwick's nomination. Leslie Southwick was appointed to the 5th circuit by Bush and previously ruled the the state had a "compelling interest" in removing children of LGBT parents, like me, from their homes.
Jeff is going to stand up for our rights as a US Senator by fighting to repeal DOMA and Don't Ask Don't Tell. Speaker Merkley will fight to force the federal government to recognize domestic partner ships for states whose constitutions ban marriage and for federal legislation that mirrors the nondescrimination legislation he passed here in Oregon.
Thats the kind of fighter I want in the United States Senate, one that knows how to fight, when to fight, and doesn’t give up. That is why I am proud to support Jeff Merkley.
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