Equality for all Oregonians

Jeff Merkley has publicly stood tall above the crowd, not just when election time rolls around, advocating for the fair and equal treatment of all Americans. He will do the same in the U.S. Senate.

Merkley strongly supports marriage equality and will lead the way for equal rights in the U.S. Senate. His efforts in Oregon to legalize civil unions were so fierce that the Republican Speaker Karen Minnis threatened to have state police remove him from the Oregon House chamber in 2005.

In 2007 Merkley brought lawmakers together to legalize domestic partnerships for the first time in state history.

In the U.S. Senate, Merkley will oppose a constitutional ban on marriage equality, just like he actively campaigned against Ballot Measure 36. Merkley will also champion reforms like the landmark bill that banned discrimination based on sexual orientation.

Merkley will continue the fight to end unfair and unjust discrimination in America. Jeff Merkley's actions and beliefs consistently support his strong public record against denying any person a job, housing, healthcare, education or a seat in a public restaurant solely based upon the sexual orientation or gender identity of any person.

Merkley also fully supports a comprehensive Federal Hate Crimes bill which would increase the criminal penalties for violent assaults against a person based upon their sexual orientation or gender identity.

Republican Gordon Smith twice voted for Constitutional amendments to ban marriage equality. In election years, to drum up right-wing support for their candidates, Republicans brought Constitutional amendments to ban marriage equality to the Senate. Each time, Gordon Smith voted with the likes of Rick Santorum, Trent Lott and Bill Frist. Twice Smith voted with Republicans to strip the states of their rights to make this decision for themselves. Twice Smith voted against equality for all Americans. [Senate vote #155, 7/14/04; Senate vote #163, 6/7/06]

Posted January 6, 2008
Issues