Oregon Citizens Alliance
Encyclopedia
The Oregon Citizens Alliance (OCA) was a conservative
Christian
political activist organization, founded by Lon Mabon in the U.S. state
of Oregon
. It was founded in 1986 as a vehicle to challenge then–U.S. Senator
Bob Packwood
in the Republican primaries,
and was involved in Oregon politics from the late 1980s into the 1990s.
Neil Goldschmidt
's executive order banning discrimination based on sexual orientation in the executive branch of state government. The measure not only repealed the executive order, but also put a statute on the books that prohibited any job protection for gay people in state government. The measure was approved by the voters, 52.7 percent to 47.3 percent. It was the OCA's only state-wide victory.
Aftwards, the OCA turned its attention to abortion. It placed Measure 10 on the 1990 general election ballot, which would have required parental notification for a minor's abortion. The measure was defeated, 52.2 percent to 47.8 percent.
In 1992 the OCA returned to the issue of homosexuality, when it proposed Measure 9
. This initiative
would have amended the Oregon Constitution
to prevent what the OCA called "special rights" for homosexuals and bisexuals, by adding a provision that the state "recognizes homosexuality, pedophilia, sadism and masochism as abnormal, wrong, unnatural, and perverse." The ballot measure was defeated, 56 percent to 44 percent. That same year, the Oregon Court of Appeals
declared Measure 8 unconstitutional.
As a result, the OCA's only statewide victory was nullified.
The OCA promoted similar measures at the local level, both before and after the 1992 election, but those measures were ultimately invalidated by the Oregon Legislative Assembly
. It also promoted similar statewide measures with language softer than that of Measure 9. These included Measures 13 and 19
in 1994, and Measure 9 (sometimes referred to as "Son of 9") in 2000.
The organized opposition to 1992's Measure 9 formed the basis of much of the current LGBT rights movement in Oregon, including the organization Basic Rights Oregon
.
in 1992, the OCA turned its attention to passing anti-discrimination bans at the county and municipal level. Couching the debate in terms of forbidding LGBT people from receiving so-called "special rights," the OCA sought not only to block ordinances in these communities but to bar them from spending money to "promote homosexuality."
The OCA was successful in passing over two dozen initiatives. However, in 1993 the Oregon Legislative Assembly
passed a law prohibiting local governments from considering LGBT rights measures so the ordinances had no legal force.
The Oregon Court of Appeals
upheld the state law in 1995.
Two weeks after the United States Supreme Court
ruled in Romer v. Evans
, the OCA suspended its efforts for a third statewide ballot initiative.
was organized in opposition to the measures. The Hands Off Washington campaign repelled both efforts.
to succeed disgraced Senator Packwood, the OCA endorsed Gordon Smith over Ron Wyden
in the race. Critics faulted Smith for failing to take a strong stand against the OCA, and he was defeated by Wyden. When Smith made a second run for the Senate
a few months later after incumbent Mark Hatfield
had retired, Mabon ran against Smith The Oregonian
cited Mabon's candidacy as a key component of Smith's attempt in the second race to establish himself as a centrist
, contributing to his victory over Democrat
Tom Bruggere
.
Conservatism
Conservatism is a political and social philosophy that promotes the maintenance of traditional institutions and supports, at the most, minimal and gradual change in society. Some conservatives seek to preserve things as they are, emphasizing stability and continuity, while others oppose modernism...
Christian
Christianity
Christianity is a monotheistic religion based on the life and teachings of Jesus as presented in canonical gospels and other New Testament writings...
political activist organization, founded by Lon Mabon in the U.S. state
U.S. state
A U.S. state is any one of the 50 federated states of the United States of America that share sovereignty with the federal government. Because of this shared sovereignty, an American is a citizen both of the federal entity and of his or her state of domicile. Four states use the official title of...
of Oregon
Oregon
Oregon is a state in the Pacific Northwest region of the United States. It is located on the Pacific coast, with Washington to the north, California to the south, Nevada on the southeast and Idaho to the east. The Columbia and Snake rivers delineate much of Oregon's northern and eastern...
. It was founded in 1986 as a vehicle to challenge then–U.S. Senator
United States Senate
The United States Senate is the upper house of the bicameral legislature of the United States, and together with the United States House of Representatives comprises the United States Congress. The composition and powers of the Senate are established in Article One of the U.S. Constitution. Each...
Bob Packwood
Bob Packwood
Robert William "Bob" Packwood is a U.S. politician from Oregon and a member of the Republican Party. He resigned from the United States Senate, under threat of expulsion, in 1995 after allegations of sexual harassment, abuse and assault of women emerged.-Early life and career:Packwood was born in...
in the Republican primaries,
and was involved in Oregon politics from the late 1980s into the 1990s.
Legislative activism
The group sponsored Measure 8, an initiative measure that repealed GovernorGovernor of Oregon
The Governor of Oregon is the top executive of the government of the U.S. state of Oregon. The title of governor was also applied to the office of Oregon's chief executive during the provisional and U.S. territorial governments....
Neil Goldschmidt
Neil Goldschmidt
Neil Edward Goldschmidt is an American businessman and former Democratic politician from Oregon who held local, state, and federal offices over three decades. After serving as the governor of Oregon, Goldschmidt is widely considered the most influential figure in the state's politics, both as an...
's executive order banning discrimination based on sexual orientation in the executive branch of state government. The measure not only repealed the executive order, but also put a statute on the books that prohibited any job protection for gay people in state government. The measure was approved by the voters, 52.7 percent to 47.3 percent. It was the OCA's only state-wide victory.
Aftwards, the OCA turned its attention to abortion. It placed Measure 10 on the 1990 general election ballot, which would have required parental notification for a minor's abortion. The measure was defeated, 52.2 percent to 47.8 percent.
In 1992 the OCA returned to the issue of homosexuality, when it proposed Measure 9
Oregon Ballot Measure 9 (1992)
Ballot Measure 9 was a ballot measure in the U.S. state of Oregon in 1992, concerning gay rights and public education, that drew widespread national attention.Measure 9 would have added the following text to the Oregon Constitution:...
. This initiative
Initiative
In political science, an initiative is a means by which a petition signed by a certain minimum number of registered voters can force a public vote...
would have amended the Oregon Constitution
Oregon Constitution
The Oregon Constitution is the governing document of the U.S. state of Oregon, originally enacted in 1857. As amended the current state constitution contains eighteen sections, beginning with a bill of rights. This contains most of the rights and privileges granted in the United States Bill of...
to prevent what the OCA called "special rights" for homosexuals and bisexuals, by adding a provision that the state "recognizes homosexuality, pedophilia, sadism and masochism as abnormal, wrong, unnatural, and perverse." The ballot measure was defeated, 56 percent to 44 percent. That same year, the Oregon Court of Appeals
Oregon Court of Appeals
The Oregon Court of Appeals is the state intermediate appellate court in the U.S. state of Oregon. Part of the Oregon Judicial Department, it has ten judges and is located in Salem...
declared Measure 8 unconstitutional.
As a result, the OCA's only statewide victory was nullified.
The OCA promoted similar measures at the local level, both before and after the 1992 election, but those measures were ultimately invalidated by the Oregon Legislative Assembly
Oregon Legislative Assembly
The Oregon Legislative Assembly is the state legislature for the U.S. state of Oregon. The Legislative Assembly is bicameral, consisting of an upper and lower house: the Senate, whose 30 members are elected to serve four-year terms; and the House of Representatives, with 60 members elected to...
. It also promoted similar statewide measures with language softer than that of Measure 9. These included Measures 13 and 19
Oregon Ballot Measure 19 (1994)
Ballot Measure 19 was a citizen's initiative in the U.S. state of Oregon in 1994. The measure sought to amend the Oregon Constitution, limiting free speech protection for obscenity and child pornography...
in 1994, and Measure 9 (sometimes referred to as "Son of 9") in 2000.
The organized opposition to 1992's Measure 9 formed the basis of much of the current LGBT rights movement in Oregon, including the organization Basic Rights Oregon
Basic Rights Oregon
Basic Rights Oregon is an American nonprofit gay rights organization based in Portland, Oregon. It is the largest advocacy, education, and political organization working in Oregon to end discrimination based on sexual orientation and gender identity. BRO has twelve full-time staff, a contract...
.
Local efforts
After failing to pass Measure 9Oregon Ballot Measure 9 (1992)
Ballot Measure 9 was a ballot measure in the U.S. state of Oregon in 1992, concerning gay rights and public education, that drew widespread national attention.Measure 9 would have added the following text to the Oregon Constitution:...
in 1992, the OCA turned its attention to passing anti-discrimination bans at the county and municipal level. Couching the debate in terms of forbidding LGBT people from receiving so-called "special rights," the OCA sought not only to block ordinances in these communities but to bar them from spending money to "promote homosexuality."
The OCA was successful in passing over two dozen initiatives. However, in 1993 the Oregon Legislative Assembly
Oregon Legislative Assembly
The Oregon Legislative Assembly is the state legislature for the U.S. state of Oregon. The Legislative Assembly is bicameral, consisting of an upper and lower house: the Senate, whose 30 members are elected to serve four-year terms; and the House of Representatives, with 60 members elected to...
passed a law prohibiting local governments from considering LGBT rights measures so the ordinances had no legal force.
The Oregon Court of Appeals
Oregon Court of Appeals
The Oregon Court of Appeals is the state intermediate appellate court in the U.S. state of Oregon. Part of the Oregon Judicial Department, it has ten judges and is located in Salem...
upheld the state law in 1995.
Two weeks after the United States Supreme Court
Supreme Court of the United States
The Supreme Court of the United States is the highest court in the United States. It has ultimate appellate jurisdiction over all state and federal courts, and original jurisdiction over a small range of cases...
ruled in Romer v. Evans
Romer v. Evans
Romer v. Evans, 517 U.S. 620 , is a landmark United States Supreme Court case dealing with civil rights and state laws. It was the first Supreme Court case to deal with LGBT rights since Bowers v...
, the OCA suspended its efforts for a third statewide ballot initiative.
| Locale | Outcome | Corvallis Corvallis, Oregon Corvallis is a city located in central western Oregon, United States. It is the county seat of Benton County and the principal city of the Corvallis, Oregon Metropolitan Statistical Area, which encompasses all of Benton County. As of the 2010 United States Census, the population was 54,462.... | 02-06 | 4,896 (36.21%) | 8,625 (63.79%) | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Springfield Springfield, Oregon Springfield is a city in Lane County, Oregon, United States. Located in the Southern Willamette Valley, it is within the Eugene-Springfield Metropolitan Statistical Area. Separated from Eugene to the west, mainly by Interstate 5, Springfield is the second-most populous city in the metropolitan area... |
20-08 | 55.4% | 44.6% | ||||||
| Cornelius Cornelius, Oregon Cornelius is a city in Washington County, Oregon, United States. The population was 9,652 at the 2000 census. The 2007 estimate is 10,895 residents.-Geography:According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of , all of it land.... |
34-5 | 981 (61.74%) | 608 (38.26%) | ||||||
| Canby Canby, Oregon Canby is a city in Clackamas County, Oregon, United States. The population was 15,829 at the 2010 census. It is located on Oregon Route 99E, two miles northeast of Barlow.-History:... |
1,961 (55.76%) | 1,556 (44.24%) | Final unofficial results . | ||||||
| Junction City Junction City, Oregon Junction City is a city in Lane County, Oregon, United States. The population was 5,392 at the 2010 census.- History :In the 1870s, Junction City was named by railroad magnate Ben Holladay, who decided this would be where the rail line on the east side of the Willamette Valley would meet the rail... |
Passed by one vote. The measure was later invalidated by a court, but a new initiative passed . |
||||||||
| Douglas Co. Douglas County, Oregon -National protected areas:* Crater Lake National Park * Rogue River-Siskiyou National Forest * Siuslaw National Forest * Umpqua National Forest * Willamette National Forest -Adjacent counties:* Lane County, Oregon -... |
|||||||||
| Josephine Co. Josephine County, Oregon Josephine County is a county located in the U.S. state of Oregon. According to Oregon Geographic Names, the county is probably named after a stream in the area called Josephine Creek, which in turn is probably named after Virginia Josephine Rollins Ort. In 2010, its population was 82,713... |
13,048 (60.47%) | 8,529 (39.53) | Final unofficial results . | ||||||
| Klamath Co. Klamath County, Oregon -National protected areas:* Bear Valley National Wildlife Refuge* Crater Lake National Park * Deschutes National Forest * Fremont National Forest * Klamath Marsh National Wildlife Refuge* Lower Klamath National Wildlife Refuge... |
18-01 | 11,304 (65.87%) | 5,856 (34.13%) | ||||||
| Linn Co. Linn County, Oregon Linn County is a county located in the U.S. state of Oregon. It is named in honor of Lewis F. Linn, a U.S. Senator from Missouri who advocated the American occupation of the Oregon Country. By the 2010 US census the population of Linn county was 116,672 showing a 13.2% growth since the 2000 census... |
18,197 (69.06%) | 8,153 (30.94%) | Final unofficial results . | ||||||
| Creswell Creswell, Oregon Creswell is a city in the Willamette Valley of Lane County, Oregon, United States. The population at the 2010 census was 5,031.- Geography :According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of , of which , or 2.42%, is water.... |
20-01 | 368 (57.86%) | 268 (42.14%) | Final unofficial results . | |||||
| Estacada Estacada, Oregon Estacada is a city in Clackamas County, Oregon, United States, about 30 miles southeast of Portland. The population was 2,695 at the 2010 census. -History:The Estacada post office opened in February 1904 and the city was incorporated in May 1905... |
3-1 | 349 (54.45%) | 292 (45.55%) | Final unofficial results . | |||||
| Lebanon Lebanon, Oregon Lebanon is a city in Linn County, Oregon, United States. Lebanon is located in northwest Oregon, southeast of Salem. The population was 12,950 at the 2000 census and the 2008 census data shows the population at 15,397.-Geography:... |
22-02 | 1,869 (65.24%) | 996 (34.76%) | Final unofficial results . | |||||
| Medford Medford, Oregon Medford is a city in Jackson County, Oregon, United States. As of the 2010 US Census, the city had a total population of 74,907 and a metropolitan area population of 207,010, making the Medford MSA the 4th largest metro area in Oregon... |
15-2 | 8,550 (58.48%) | 6,070 (41.52%) | Incomplete results . | |||||
| Molalla Molalla, Oregon Molalla is a city in Clackamas County, Oregon, United States. The population was 5,647 at the 2000 census.-History:Molalla was named after the Molalla River, which in turn was named for the Molala, a Native American tribe that inhabited the area. William H. Vaughan took up a donation land claim in... |
3-2 | 443 (54.96%) | 363 (45.04%) | Final unofficial results . | |||||
| Sweet Home Sweet Home, Oregon Sweet Home is a city in Linn County, Oregon, United States. The population was 8,016 at the 2000 census. Sweet Home is sometimes referred to as the "Gateway to the Santiam Playground", due to its proximity to nearby lakes, rivers and the Cascade Mountains.... |
22-01 | 1,242 (77.33%) | 364 (22.67%) | Final unofficial results . | |||||
| Jackson Co. Jackson County, Oregon -National protected areas:* Cascade–Siskiyou National Monument* Crater Lake National Park * Klamath National Forest * Rogue River-Siskiyou National Forest * Umpqua National Forest -Demographics:... |
15-1 | 27,621 (59.10%) | 19,115 (40.90%) | Incomplete results . | |||||
| Keizer Keizer, Oregon Keizer is a city in Marion County, Oregon, United States, along the 45th parallel. It was named for Thomas Dove and John Brooks Keizer, two pioneers who arrived in the Wagon Train of 1843, and later filed donation land claims. The population was 36,278 at the 2010 census... |
55% | 45% | |||||||
| Oregon City Oregon City, Oregon Oregon City was the first city in the United States west of the Rocky Mountains to be incorporated. It is the county seat of Clackamas County, Oregon... |
53% | 47% | |||||||
| Albany Albany, Oregon Albany is the eleventh largest city in the U.S. state of Oregon, and is the county seat of Linn County. It is located in the Willamette Valley at the confluence of the Calapooia River and the Willamette River in both Linn and Benton counties, just east of Corvallis and south of Salem. It is... |
22-3 | 5,357 (58.82%) | 3,750 (41.18%) | Final unofficial results . | |||||
| Junction City | 20-06 | 658 (56.97%) | 497 (43.03%) | Final unofficial results . Replaced a measure passed but invalidated in court. |
|||||
| Marion Co. Marion County, Oregon Marion County is a county located in the U.S. state of Oregon. It was originally named the Champooick District, after Champoeg, a meeting place on the Willamette River. On September 3, 1849, the territorial legislature renamed it in honor of Francis Marion, a Continental Army general of the... |
24-5 | 36,663 (60.77%) | 23,666 (39.23%) | Final unofficial results . | |||||
| Turner Turner, Oregon Turner is a city in Marion County, Oregon, United States. The population was 1,199 at the 2000 census. It is part of the Salem Metropolitan Statistical Area... |
22-03 | 349 (78.96%) | 93 (21.04%) | Final unofficial results . | |||||
| Cottage Grove Cottage Grove, Oregon Cottage Grove is a city in Lane County, Oregon, United States. It received its name from its first postmaster, G. C. Pierce, in September 1861. Pierce's home at the time was in an oak grove. The population was 9,686 at the 2010 census.-History:... |
57% | 43% | Final unofficial results . | ||||||
| Grants Pass Grants Pass, Oregon -Rogue River:The Rogue River runs through Grants Pass.-Demographics:As of the census of 2000, there were 23,003 people, 9,376 households, and 5,925 families residing in the city. The population density was . There were 9,885 housing units at an average density of 1,303.3 per square mile . By 2008,... |
|||||||||
| Gresham Gresham, Oregon - Demographics :As of the census of 2000, there were 90,205 people, 33,327 households, and 22,695 families residing in the city. The population density was 4,071.6 people per square mile . There were 35,309 housing units at an average density of 1,593.8 per square mile... |
26-4 | 8,035 (50.45%) | 7,891 (49.55%) | Charter amendments require 60%. |
|||||
| Oakridge Oakridge, Oregon Oakridge is a city in Lane County, Oregon, United States. The population was estimated at 3,205 in 2010. It is located east of Westfir on Oregon Route 58, about east of Eugene, and southeast of Portland... |
51% | 49% | Final unofficial results . | ||||||
| Roseburg Roseburg, Oregon Roseburg is a city in the U.S. state of Oregon. It is the county seat of Douglas County. The population was 21,181 at the 2010 census.-History:... |
65% | 35% | Final unofficial results . | ||||||
| Veneta Veneta, Oregon Veneta is a city in Lane County, Oregon, United States. As of the 2010 census, the city population was 4,561.-History:Veneta was established in 1912 by Edmund Eugene Hunter, who named the settlement after his five-year-old daughter. Veneta post office was established in 1914. Veneta Orilla Hunter... |
55% | 45% | Final unofficial results . | ||||||
| Lake Co. Lake County, Oregon Lake County is a county in the high desert south central region of the U.S. state of Oregon, so named for the many lakes found within its boundaries, including Lake Abert, Hart Lake Reservoir, and Goose Lake. While Lake is among Oregon's largest counties, it is sparsely populated with 7,895... |
|||||||||
Hands Off Washington
In 1993, the OCA intervened in Washington state politics by introducing two ballot measures that would have threatened the employability of persons who were LGBT, or were perceived to be. An ad hoc grassroots movement called Hands Off WashingtonCitizens for Fairness Hands Off Washington
Washington Citizens for Fairness | Hands off Washington was created in 1993 to defeat Washington State ballot initiatives 608 and 610, which threatened the civil rights of state and local public employees based on their actual or perceived sexual orientation.-History:In 1993, The Oregon Citizens...
was organized in opposition to the measures. The Hands Off Washington campaign repelled both efforts.
1996 Senate race
In the 1996 U.S. Senate special electionUnited States Senate special election in Oregon, 1996
The 1996 United States Senate special election in Oregon was held on January 30, 1996 to fill the seat vacated by Republican Bob Packwood, who resigned from the Senate due to sexual misconduct allegations. Democrat Ron Wyden won the open seat. Smith would win election to the Senate later that year...
to succeed disgraced Senator Packwood, the OCA endorsed Gordon Smith over Ron Wyden
Ron Wyden
Ronald Lee "Ron" Wyden is the senior U.S. Senator for Oregon, serving since 1996, and a member of the Democratic Party. He previously served in the United States House of Representatives from 1981 to 1996....
in the race. Critics faulted Smith for failing to take a strong stand against the OCA, and he was defeated by Wyden. When Smith made a second run for the Senate
United States Senate election in Oregon, 1996
The 1996 United States Senate election in Oregon was held on November 5, 1996 to select the U.S. Senator from the state of Oregon. Incumbent Republican U.S. Senator Mark Hatfield decided to retire after thirty years in the Senate...
a few months later after incumbent Mark Hatfield
Mark Hatfield
Mark Odom Hatfield was an American politician and educator from the state of Oregon. A Republican, he served for 30 years as a United States Senator from Oregon, and also as chairman of the Senate Appropriations Committee...
had retired, Mabon ran against Smith The Oregonian
The Oregonian
The Oregonian is the major daily newspaper in Portland, Oregon, owned by Advance Publications. It is the oldest continuously published newspaper on the U.S. west coast, founded as a weekly by Thomas J. Dryer on December 4, 1850...
cited Mabon's candidacy as a key component of Smith's attempt in the second race to establish himself as a centrist
Centrism
In politics, centrism is the ideal or the practice of promoting policies that lie different from the standard political left and political right. Most commonly, this is visualized as part of the one-dimensional political spectrum of left-right politics, with centrism landing in the middle between...
, contributing to his victory over Democrat
Democratic Party (United States)
The Democratic Party is one of two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Republican Party. The party's socially liberal and progressive platform is largely considered center-left in the U.S. political spectrum. The party has the lengthiest record of continuous...
Tom Bruggere
Tom Bruggere
Tom Bruggere is an entrepreneur and onetime candidate for the U.S. Senate in the U.S. state of Oregon. He founded the company Mentor Graphics and has been involved with several other startup companies....
.
See also
- List of Oregon ballot measures
- List of US ballot initiatives to repeal LGBT anti-discrimination laws
- Scott LivelyScott LivelyScott Lively is an American author, attorney and ex-gay activist. Lively is the president of Abiding Truth Ministries, a conservative Christian organization located in Temecula, California. Abiding Truth Ministries is classified as a hate group by the Southern Poverty Law Center. Lively has called...