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June 19, 2004 - Subscribe - Contact Us - Rate Card - Place an Ad Valley&State Backpage O&E Sports Archives Classifieds Faith&Beliefs Obituaries Revels March 20, 2004 Multnomah earns praise I am writing in response to the "Other Views" editorial published in the Daily Tidings on March 15. The editors of the News-Register in McMinnville are allegedly "outraged at the subversive process used by four Multnomah County commissioners to defile democratic principals in authorizing issuance of licenses to gay couples." Oh, please. The commissioners are not required to hold open meetings and take testimony on every decision they make. The Multnomah commissioners made a rational decision based on a legitimate fear of being sued for illegal discrimination. The commissioners went to the County's lawyer and asked her opinion. She told them that the county could be sued for discrimination against gays and lesbians based on the clear language of the Oregon Constitution's equal protection clause, and based on a decision of the Oregon Court of Appeal interpreting that clause. The commissioners decided to follow their lawyer's advice, and they affected a policy change (not an ordinance) to avoid liability. No public meeting is required for such policy decisions. Did the residents of Ashland have the chance to vote on the closure of Briscoe or Lincoln Elementary Schools? No, of course not. We elect representatives to make a number of tough decisions, and if we don't like their decisions, we can vote them out of office at the end of their terms. Let's assume for the sake of argument that the issue should have been put to a vote of the people. Is this the way we want to interpret and apply our constitution? I certainly do not want my basic human rights put to a vote. Keep in mind that in 1967, when the U.S. Supreme Court struck down anti-miscegenation laws (which banned interracial marriage) as violative of equal protection, 16 states still had such laws on their books, and 72 percent of southern whites supported such a ban. The purpose of the equal protection clause is to protect minorities (however defined) from the power of the majority. Now, as in 1967, we need leaders such as those in Multnomah County who are willing to do what is right, without first testing the political waters. Mr. Myers (and the governor) want to go slowly until the courts provide political cover. But when it comes to honoring the constitution, I'll take the bravery of the Multnomah commissioners any day. Carolyn A. Anderson Ashland DailyTidings.com Home Page Valley&State | Backpage | O&E | Sports | Archives | Weather | Classifieds Columnists | Faith&Beliefs | Obituaries | Revels | Subscribe | Contact Us Copyright 2004 Ashland Daily Tidings and Ottaway Newspapers All Rights Reserved Click Here Site Search: .:Advertisements:. RESOURCES - Mail Tribune News - ODOT Road Cams