Date: Sat, 6 May 1995 10:15:57 -0400 (EDT) From: David Casti Reply-To: Alan Brown Subject: ACTION ALERT: Oregon: HB 3459 Submitted by: Alan Brown After months of behind-the-scenes work, Right To Privacy has introduced a comprehensive civil rights bill in the Oregon Legislature, prohibiting discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation in employment, housing, public accomodations and real estate transactions. HB 3459 is sponsored by Rep. Kate Brown and Sen. Jeannette Hamby. It was introduced late in the session after the breakdown of a strategy earlier agreed upon by Right To Privacy and Republican leaders. It now needs a hearing to move ahead. Please call your state represenative, as well House Speaker Bev Clarno, and Judiciary Committee Chair Del Parks at this toll free number [inside Oregon only], 1.800.332.2313, and request a hearing on HB 3459. Also, the House Chair, Bev Clarno's fax number is 503-986-1201. Citing failure on the part of legislative leaders to follow through on earlier commitments made to Oregon's gay and lesbian and bisexual community, Right To Privacy urges all Oregonians, their family and friends and anyone who believes in the democratic process, to contact legislators and request a hearing on HB 3459. "We went along with their strategy," said Rep. Kate Brown (D-Dist.13)."They said,'Show us a majority of House members willing to vote for your bill and we'll hear it.' But when we lined up a majority of the House, the leadership moved the goal post. They said,'No, now we need to see a majority of the Republican caucus willing to vote for a hearing. At this point, we're calling 'foul'". "If the legislature wants to stick its collective head in the sand and act like there's nothing going on out there beyond these walls, they are risking the lives and livelyhoods of taxpaying Oregonians who happen to be gay," says RTP Co-Chair Lisa Maxfield. "Let's not lose sight of the fact that it is perfectly legal in Oregon to fire someone simply on the basis of their sexual orientation..perceived or real." For more information, call Lisa Maxfield, 503.228.0487.