Oregon State Senator Wants LGBT People to “Shut Up!”

In 2007’s legislative session, Oregon lawmakers took an important step forward by passing domestic partnership laws and the Oregon Equality Act, which added gay and transgender folks to existing anti-discrimination laws. Out-of-state anti-gay activists who were unhappy with these laws circulated petitions to force the laws to a referendum vote, but failed to reach the required number of signatures to stop the implementation of the law. 

Still unhappy that the laws were going into effect, this same anti-gay group sued to change the rules on counting signatures.  Thousands of Oregonians have utilized the basic protections and security that domestic partnerships afford their families; countless others feel more secure in their jobs because of the Oregon Equality Act.

Since their attempt failed, a small band of state legislators have filed initiative petitions to repeal those laws through an election in November 2008.

One of those legislators, Senator Gary George (R-McMinnville), spoke to Oregon’s LGBT newspaper Just Out.  George is the chief petitioner to repeal the Oregon Equality Act.  When asked why he sought a vote to repeal a law that protects someone from being fired from his or her job based on their sexual orientation, Senator George had some advice for the gay community: “My advice to the gay community is SHUT UP, just don’t talk about it. If you walk around talking about what you do in the bedroom, you should be on the pervert channel.”

Senator George’s response shows just how much he hopes the LGBT community will shut up about their wish to have their job performance based on merit, or to be able to put up a picture of their partner on their desk without worrying that they will be fired.  The media have a responsibility here to report on what the Oregon Equality Act really does and just how apparent the political motives are of those that are looking to repeal this law. 

Paul Karr is the Director of Media Field Strategy