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