Marriage Equality

Marriage Equality

Our Work

Basic Rights is committed to winning the freedom to marry for everyone. The question isn’t whether we’re going to do this, but when. Unlike states such as Iowa and New York, Oregon does not have the option of going through courts or legislature - the only way to change our constitution is with a vote of the people.

Why We Do This Work

Committed couples, whether they are gay or straight, hope to marry for similar reasons – to make a lifetime promise to share the joys and sorrows that life brings. Marriage says “we are family” in a way that no other word does. But while these values are universal, thousands of gay and lesbian couples in Oregon are denied the right to marry. There have been attempts to create marriage-like relationship systems, but they don’t work. In Oregon, and elsewhere, same-sex couples that have domestic partnerships have been barred from a dying partner’s bedside, and denied the ability to say goodbye to the person they love. That just doesn’t happen when you’re married.

Who We Are

Marriage Matters is a combined effort of Basic Rights Oregon and the community. We work in partnership with coalition partners and rely on the help of hundreds of grassroots volunteers. When to go to the ballot will be a difficult decision that we will not make alone. The advice of community leaders and campaign professionals, along with input from an online survey sent to our supporters, will be weighed by Basic Rights Oregon’s Board of Directors in deciding, later this month, whether to begin gathering signatures for a 2012 ballot measure.

What The Marriage Equality Program Does

Ours is a grassroots education campaign to engage Oregonians in conversations about the freedom to marry. New research shows that people who have talked to LGBT folks and straight allies about marriage are twice as likely to support the freedom to marry. We work to ensure we’re having conversations with all sorts of Oregonians – including parents, union members, rural communities, and people of all colors, faiths and ages. You can help now in three ways:

• Have conversations with the people in your life about why marriage matters to you
• Become an online organizer to share content online
• Volunteer with Basic Rights Oregon talking to people about why marriage matters