Oregon State Senator George ripped over gay rights repeal initiative

[davidinalameda]

http://www.newsregister.com/news/story.cfm?story_no=232614

Two Yamhill County lawmakers are aiming to sponsor a statewide ballot initiative that would repeal Senate Bill 2, which the Legislature's Democratic leadership shepherded through last year to prohibit discrimination in housing and employment based on sexual orientation.

State Sen. Gary George, R-Newberg, and Rep. Kim Thatcher, R-Newberg, have submitted a ballot title to state elections officials, who announced this week that they will accept public comments on it through March 25.

The statutory amendment filed by George and Thatcher, who are partnering with Nazarene ministry worker Victor Vityukov of Salem, carries the following draft title: "Removes sexual orientation from statutes listing impermissible discrimination grounds; deletes other sexual orientation-related provisions."

While that clock is ticking, gay rights activists are seething over remarks George made to a reporter for Just Out, the state's flagship gay newspaper, which posted them on its website.

[WillParkinson]

1. They're not homophobes...I can understand their point.

Readers responding on the Just Out blog have termed George's comments horrifying and hateful. One has called for his resignation and others have called him a "lunatic" and a "whack job."

George said Friday that the backlash might actually help him with his initiative, because it exposes the intolerance of gay rights supporters

"I think it's just within that community," he said of the roil. "I think it would be good if it just stays there."



I mean, c'mon, the gay community has vilified this poor civil servant. We're so intolerant of those who want to take away our rights. Shame on us.

:puke: