Oregon Public Broadcasting

A group trying to overturn two gay rights laws in Oregon is pulling the plug on efforts to get on the ballot this fall.

The group “Concerned Oregonians” wanted to repeal Oregon’s domestic partnerships law and a separate law banning discrimination based on sexual orientation.  But the group never got a chance to collect signatures due to legal appeals filed by a gay rights group.

David Crowe of Concerned Oregonians believes they would have had no problem getting enough signatures, had they been given the chance.

David Crowe:  “We had 24 hubs, communities and cities all across the state.  We had well over 700 people ready to circulate.”

Gay rights opponents will have at least one more chance to get something on the November ballot in Oregon.

Next month a federal judge in Portland will hear arguments in a case over signatures gathered in a similar petition drive last year.  If the judges rules in favor of the gay rights opponents, the measure could end up on the ballot this fall.