A Coalition Response to Recent Hateful, False and Dangerous Rhetoric from Oregon Legislators
As the 2024 Oregon Legislative Session kicks off this week, Basic Rights Oregon and the coalition of undersigned organizations are taking a stance against dehumanizing language, hate and ignorance from our elected officials.
As recently reported in the media, public statements from two Oregon lawmakers have expressed extremist homophobic and transphobic as well as xenophobic and Islamophobic opinions. These comments cross the line from political opinion into hateful attacks meant to isolate and scapegoat Oregonians who hold these identities.
As hate incidents continue to rise nationally, it’s unconscionable that elected officials would use their power and influence to compare LGBTQ2SIA+ people to child abusers or suggest people of certain faiths are so fundamentally opposed to Oregon values that they’re unfit for office. These comments are meant to strip Oregonians in these communities of our humanity, so as to make it more palatable to then strip away our rights—or even incite violence against us.
The Oregon we live in is better than that. We’ve seen the way Oregonians value freedom, respect and dignity for all people, and we know our state legislators are capable of disagreeing on policy without putting vulnerable communities at greater risk with their words.
Collectively, our organizations are calling for a return to that basic decency from the people elected to work for all Oregonians.
To state lawmakers who have engaged in such dehumanizing language: We urge you to educate yourself, reflect on the legacy you would like to leave in Oregon, and remember that your words have great power.
To all LGBTQ2SIA+ Oregonians, and Oregonians of minority faiths: We see you, we value you, and you matter. You belong in Oregon. Hate does not.
Organizations:
Basic Rights Oregon
Latino Network
APANO Action Fund
Mixte Communications
Oregon Just Transition Alliance
Pride Northwest
Pineros y Campesinos Unidos del Noroeste (PCUN)
Partnership for Safety & Justice
Rogue Climate
Rogue Action Center
TransActive Gender Project at Lewis & Clark Graduate School of Education and Counseling
Fair Shot For All Coalition
Oregon Wild
Planned Parenthood Advocates of Oregon
Cascade AIDS Project
The Equi Institute
Partners for a Hunger-Free Oregon
Portland for All
Linn United
Unicorn Solutions LLC
Ecumenical Ministries of Oregon
East County Rising
ACLU of Oregon
Quest Center for Integrative Health
Family Forward Action
1000 Friends of Oregon
True Colors Recovery Organization
Sierra Club Oregon Chapter