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43 °F Forecast | Road Cams Thursday, January 27, 2005 Today's News | Classifieds | Autos | Homes | Jobs | Tempo | Health | Community | Home Delivery SECTIONS Home Page Local News Sports Business Obituaries Life Opinion - Politics Tempo AP News Weather Classified Archives Site Map SPECIAL SECTIONS Since We Asked Outdoor Journal Menu Guide How To Guide Wellness Connection Readers' Choice Real Estate Showcase Real Estate Guide Joy Magazine Homelife Magazine Wedding Guide Passport to the Rogue Valley EXTRA Newspaper in Education Personals Movie Times TV Times E The People Volunteer Opportunities Moving to Southern Oregon? MARKETPLACE Find a Car Find a Home Find a Job Classifieds Place an ad eSouthernOregon Automotive Communities Entertainment Publications Recreation Calendar CUSTOMER SERVICE Frequent Questions Advertising Information Home Delivery Employment Contact Us Media Kit Network Affiliate Oregon Road Conditions & Cams Email Story to a Friend October 10, 2004 Relfe Patterson, left, and Jim Willeford share similar backgrounds but divergent views on the measure that would define marriage in Oregon as one man and one woman. Mail Tribune / Bob Pennell Vows of contention Two residents with similar backgrounds find themselves on opposite sides of the Measure 36 debate By DAMIAN MANN Mail Tribune Jim Willeford and Relfe Patterson both grew up in very religious families in the South, are in their mid-60s and are a little hard of hearing. What the two Medford men don’t have in common is their stand on Measure 36, a constitutional amendment that would define marriage in Oregon as between one man and one woman. The divergent views of the two men, who agreed to meet with the Mail Tribune Friday, point to the deep-seated convictions of people on both sides of this issue. Patterson, 64, considers marriage a sacrament and homosexuality an illness. He’s voting for Measure 36 come Nov. 2. Advertisement "It’s because a homosexual agenda is wrong," said Patterson, a Christian. "It always has been wrong and never will be right. I feel that way even though I have a son who has elected to live in that kind of lifestyle." Willeford, 65, who is gay and also a Christian, said Measure 36 goes against everything that America stands for, particularly upholding the rights of minority groups. "I think the Constitution is designed to help people, not hurt people," said Willeford. "It’s a slippery slope when we target a particular group in society to discriminate against." The latest independent statewide poll in Oregon, released two weeks ago, showed support for the ban at 51 percent, with 40 percent opposed and the rest undecided. Eleven states have similar amendments on their ballots, but only in Oregon and Michigan do gay-rights groups and allies in some churches feel they have any chance of defeating them. Willeford, a single man who is not officially part of the No on 36 campaign, has taken it upon himself to go door-to-door to persuade people who support the measure to pull down their signs. Of the 400 homes he’s contacted, six have agreed to replace their "yes" signs with "no" signs, and 60 have taken down their signs, he said. Patterson, a married man who is with the Jackson County Republican Central Committee, said homosexuals already have rights as individuals and don’t need special rights. Willeford responded, "You’re asking for special rights for yourself by denying us our rights." Patterson, who refuses to give his gay son any inheritance, said homosexuals have paraded their lifestyle, sometimes conducting sexual activity in public. "I am surprised and appalled at their behavior," he said. "It’s really a sickness or an illness." He said he’s not even comfortable seeing less pronounced signs of affection between couples of the same sex, such as kissing and hugging. He said Measure 36 is one way to preserve the family structure, and to stop the erosion of values and morals in this country. Willeford agreed that homosexuals, in some cases, have flaunted unacceptable behavior. "I accept his criticism on this issue," he said. But to say that all homosexuals exhibit this kind of behavior is inaccurate, he said. Willeford said heterosexuals need to acknowledge that homosexuals are capable of loving one another and of being able to stay in long-term relationships. He said current laws penalize homosexuals, preventing some from visiting a partner in the hospital or excluding others from benefiting from an inheritance. Both men disagreed over how the Bible should be interpreted on homosexuality. Willeford said the Bible is often open to interpretation. He said some passages condone slavery, wondering if that means society should continue to support slavery. "‘Slaves, submit yourself to your masters,’" he said, quoting one passage. But Patterson said he would interpret that as meaning everyone has a master to serve at some time or other. "Every one of us are slaves for at least half the year," he said, referring to a job. Willeford said, "My whole point is that we evolve." To which Patterson responded, "Or de-evolve." Willeford, who acknowledged he wouldn’t be able to persuade everyone about his point of view, said the important thing is to sit down and discuss these issues with people of differing opinions. "We need to see the humanness on either side," he said. Reach reporter Damian Mann at 776-4476, or e-mail [email protected] Mail Tribune Home Local News | Sports | Business | Obituaries | Life Opinion - Politics | AP News | Archives | Site Map E Southern Oregon | Classified Copyright © 1997-2005 Mail Tribune. All rights reserved. Privacy Policy | Terms & Conditions Website Feedback ADVERTISERS A D V E R T I S E R S SPECIAL SECTIONS Auto Finder Job Finder Home Finder Joy Magazine Homelife Magazine Tempo Readers' Choice Real Estate Showcase Since We Asked Outdoor Journal Moving to Southern Oregon? Volunteer Opportunities Student Loan Consolidation Conference Calls - $50/Month Home Security Systems Trunks, Footlocker, Trunk, Footlockers