"I grew up in a time when women were not treated as equals. Racial minorities and people with disabilities were not treated as equals," Governor Barbara Roberts recalls. "So for me it became very personal, the understanding that without equality people do not have full humanity.  They do not have full dignity and do not have full citizenship. In order to have those things you must have equality under the law."

Governor Roberts, who led the fight to oppose anti-gay initiatives in the 1990s, knows a thing or two about the law. In 1984, she was elected Secretary of State. Her swearing-in ceremony staged the Portland Gay Men's Chorus (PGMC), which marked the first time a gay chorus ever sang in a state capitol.

Following this experience, Governor Roberts was inaugurated as Oregon's first female governor on January 14, 1991. During her term as Governor, Roberts was recognized as a strong advocate for human rights and services, public education, environmental management, and increasing the efficiency of our local state government.

As Governor Roberts explains, "I was involved in the gay rights movement long before I served as governor or secretary of state. Once I filled those roles, I became an advocate because I had a podium for speaking out."

She has been advocating for gay rights now for over 30 years. "I consider it the last great civil rights battle in this country," she declares.

"I feel quite strongly that to discriminate against any Oregonian based on race, religion, gender, sexual orientation, or disability diminishes the state and its people in all cases,"  Governor Roberts says. After a thoughtful pause she adds, "Equality is an uplifting thing to experience for both the giver and receiver so I think that Oregonians will think better about themselves when they are able to witness equality in so many situations. In the end Oregon will not only be better, but Oregonians will feel better too."