Faith leaders launch "Coming Out as a Person of Faith" exhibit
Premiere on March 7, 2013; exhibit will travel to churches throughout Oregon

A multimedia exhibit premiering  Thursday tells the stories of faith leaders and people of faith who now  support the freedom to marry. The exhibit, a project of the Basic Rights  Oregon Education Fund, will travel to churches throughout Oregon.


WHAT: “Coming Out as a Person of Faith” exhibit premiere
WHEN: 5:30 to 7 p.m., Thursday, March 7
WHERE: Augustana Lutheran Church, 2710 N.E. 14th Ave., Portland, Ore. 97212

Through film, audio, photographs and  writing, the exhibit shows how people from a variety of Judeo-Christian  traditions are on a journey of understanding, reconciling what they had  been taught about gay and trans people with what they have seen to be  true about their friends, family, peers and loved ones.

Gay and lesbian couples want to marry  for similar reasons as anyone – to make a lifetime promise of love,  commitment, fidelity and responsibility.  More and more people of faith  are coming to realize that the core principals of their beliefs are  leading them to support the freedom to marry.

“We are all children of god, and it  is not for us to judge or deny a couple willing to stand up in front of  their friends and family to make a promise of love, commitment, fidelity  and responsibility to each other,” said the Rev. Mark Knutson, pastor  at Augustana Lutheran Church. “I believe that that treating others as  one would want to be treated includes allowing gay and lesbian couples  to have the freedom to marry.”

When the exhibit is unveiled, clergy  and people of faith from various Judeo-Christian traditions will discuss  what they were taught growing up, how they reconciled their beliefs,  how they came out—in some cases as a gay or trans person, and in other  cases as a faith ally—and how they now support the freedom to marry.  Around 6 p.m., a short film, "Coming Out as a Person of Faith," will be  shown, featuring the song "Same Love," thanks to the generous support  from the nationally-recognized hip-hop and DJ duo Macklemore and Ryan Lewis.

A group of volunteers and faith  leaders created the project with support from several organizations,  including the Community of Welcoming Congregations, Oregon State PFLAG,  Rural Organizing Project, Religious Response Network, Oregon-Idaho Reconciling United Methodists, Oregon Integrity, Freedom to Marry,  Mormons for Marriage Equality, ReconcilingWorks: Lutherans for Full Participation and the Portland Metro Chapter of ReconcilingWorks.

The exhibit is generously supported  by Macklemore, the renowned rapper, and his producer Ryan Lewis. It’s  also supported by Jessica Painter Graphic Design, Sprout Pediatric  Dentistry, Dawn DeAno Photography, Hollywood Theatre, Megan Cleary,  Andrew Todd, Bill Michtom, Morel Ink, Pushdot Studios, Wayne Sabbak,  Stacy Brewster, and the Basic Rights Oregon Faith Committee.

For more information: http://www.oregonunitedformarriage.org/

Oregon United for Marriage Turns in 2,000 Sponsorship Signatures on the Freedom to Marry and Religious Protection Initiative

On February 19, 2013, faith leaders and Oregon United for Marriage Chief Petitioner Jeana Frazzini turned in 2,000 sponsorship signatures on the Freedom to Marry and Religious Protection Initiative—twice the number of signatures needed to move into the ballot title process. 

“With Oregon’s help, we did it,” Frazzini said. “We held 17 events across the state, mobilized hundreds of volunteers, and doubled our goal of 1,000 sponsorship signatures to advance the measure that will make it legal for gay and lesbian couples to marry in Oregon.” 

Oregon United for Marriage collected the signatures in one week, one of the fastest turnaround times for a sponsorship petition. The
signatures come from 29 counties across Oregon, counties representing over 97 percent of Oregon’s population. Leaders from across the state—including Governor John Kitzhaber and former Governor Barbara Roberts, plus state legislators, mayors, and city and county elected officials—signed the sponsorship petitions. 

This initiative would repeal the same-sex marriage ban and replace it with a constitutional provision that recognizes and protects the right of all Oregonians to marry, regardless of their gender. The initiative protects the existing rights of religious institutions and clergy to refuse to perform any marriage.   

Over 70 clergy and faith leaders from numerous denominations signed the sponsorship petition, representing Protestant,  Episcopalian, Lutheran, Lutheran-Catholic, Methodist, Jewish, Quaker, and Buddhist faith traditions. 

At the Secretary of State Elections office today, Frazzini was joined by faith leaders who affirm the right of caring, committed same-sex couples to legally marry in Oregon, including the Very Rev. William Lupfer, Trinity Episcopal Cathedral Portland, Reverend W.J. Mark Knutson of Augustana Lutheran Church, and Neysa Ellgren, Canon to the Ordinary of the Episcopal Diocese of Oregon. 

“We recognize that there are differences on this issue within the religious community,” said the Very Rev. Lupfer. “We affirm that the state should not require any religious group to officiate at, or bless, same-gender marriages. However, the state also should not favor the convictions of one religious group over another by denying individuals their fundamental right to marry whom they love."

“Oregonians believe in basic freedom and in treating others as they wish to be treated," Rev. Knutson said. "God is love and love is for everyone.” 

Once the Secretary of State Elections Division validates the signatures and ensures that the requirement for 1,000 valid signatures is
met, the ballot title process begins. 

“We look forward to working with the Oregon Secretary of State and Attorney General to ensure that we obtain a ballot title that plainly describes the initiative and ensures that voters understand that we are respecting religious rights,” Frazzini said. 

Oregon United for Marriage
We believe marriage and family are about love and commitment, working together, bettering the community, raising children, and growing old together. We believe in an Oregon that supports strong families and values freedom and equality. And we believe that marriage matters. To all Oregonians.

We are united in our belief that allowing marriage licenses for same-sex couples strengthens families and strengthens the state we love. And we are united in our hope that the people of Oregon will join us in supporting the freedom to marry for all of Oregon's loving, committed same-sex couples.

Oregon United for Marriage is building a broad coalition of individuals and organizations to win the freedom to marry for same-sex couples in Oregon. We invite business, labor, progressive, and non-partisan organizations, communities of color, people of faith, current and former elected officials, students, business and community leaders, Republicans, Democrats, Greens, Independents,
and Libertarians to join our coalition.

Find Oregon United for Marriage on the web
at www.OregonUnitedforMarriage.org.