Last fall, Basic Rights Education Fund kicked off our campaign to build public support for the freedom to marry, and our groundbreaking Marriage Matters to Me video project. Since then, we’ve been traveling the state, asking Oregonians: what’s your love story and why does marriage matter to you?

Imagine the power of a movement for justice that is united across identity. Where advocates for Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender (LGBT) justice work side by side in the struggle for immigrant rights and for racial and economic justice…

MEDIA RELEASE Contact: Thomas Wheatley

503-222-6151 x103 (w)

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE 503-888-4988 (c)

January 8, 2010 Thomas@basicrights.org

critical services for gay community face major cutbacks

New report documents devastating impact for gay and transgender Oregonians if Measures 66 and 67 fail

(PORTLAND, oregon – FRIDAY, JANUARY 8, 2010) – As ballots begin arriving in mailboxes around the state, Basic Rights Oregon today distributed a new report documenting the impact of budget cuts expected if Measures 66 and 67 fail.

According to the study, released by the Williams Institute at UCLA, tens of thousands of lesbian, gay and bisexual Oregonians face severe cuts to critical services like HIV treatment and prevention, civil rights enforcement, mental health programs, education and public safety if Oregon voters do not pass Measures 66 and 67 in the January election.

In a dramatic illustration of the impact of failing to pass Measures 66 and 67, the Oregon Department of Human Services predicts that cuts to HIV testing and treatment program could result in 35 additional Oregon deaths.

“For many gay and transgender Oregonians who will lose critical services, this is literally a life or death election,” said Jeana Frazzini, executive director of Basic Rights Oregon. She added, “We can’t afford to lose. We have to vote Yes on Measures 66 and 67.”

Highlights of the report include an analysis of the American Community Survey and other sources indicating that 12,000 poor and low-income LGBT Oregonians rely on public services that face cuts.

“It is critical that Oregonians vote yes on Measures 66 and 67,” said Michael Kaplan, executive director of Cascade AIDS Project. “Should these measures fail, we will be looking at drastic cuts to a broad net of services that our communities and our clients rely on.”

Basic Rights Oregon is the state’s leading advocacy organization working to ensure that lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender Oregonians experience equality. The Williams Institute at UCLA is the nation’s leading research organization studying sexual orientation law and public policy.

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The Real Facts About Carol Marie Leuthold’s Dairy
This weekend, many Oregonians received a letter that claimed to be from an Oregon dairy farmer opposing Measures 66 & 67. This letter was both factually inaccurate and deeply misleading.

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Tickets are $10 all pre-event ticket buyers will be entered to win a Marriott/The Original New Year’s Eve package!

Tickets will be available at these locations:

Funny Bone

Just Out

The Original

Basic Rights Oregon office

We want to take a moment to recognize everyone who participated in making this year’s Southern Oregon Garden Party a tremendous success! On October 24th, our friends down in the Rogue Valley area helped to raise well over $5,000 to support the work of Basic Rights Oregon, which is double our original goal for the event! A special thanks needs to be extended to Senator Alan Bates for helping out with the special appeal, to Tammy Marston (and her friend Mark) for providing fantastic entertainment for the event, and to everyone who gave of their time and money to support fairness and equality in our state! Thank you all so much and we look forward to our next trip down to the Rogue Valley very soon!