Support The ERA!

Article by Yeda Song, WashCo Dems Communications Committee Member

With a 5-4 ruling on the now historic date of June 26th, 2015, the United States Supreme Court ruled same-sex marriages as legal—affirming the right to marriage as fundamental, with Justice Anthony Kennedy quoting in the majority opinion as it being “an inherent liberty of a person”. Yet, with the current authoritarian regime—bolstered by the Republican majority of the court and fueled by the madness of Donald Trump—this fundamental right, alongside others, is under threat.

Following Trump’s Big Beautiful Bill recently passing the Senate, the SCOTUS ruling against birthright citizenship, and the federal political landscape being as convoluted as ever before, it’s clear we have only limited control—if any at all—over the actions of our national government. However, with the unique structure of America, there’s action YOU can and must take for a statewide change.

Though Oregon is a firmly blue state, its Constitution still uses the more historic definition for a marriage, quoting it as, “a civil contract between one man and one woman”. The 2015 SCOTUS decision nullified this clause, yet as mentioned, there’s nothing about our national politics that can currently be guaranteed. We deserve a future where we get privacy, autonomy, and freedom regarding our decisions about healthcare, safety, and love—and the Equal Rights for All ballot measure enacts this future through a constitutional amendment. Scheduled for the 2026 November election season, this ballot initiative clarifies constitutional language and adds crucial wording in order to protect all of our rights– regardless of sex, gender, or healthcare decisions. Over 80% of Oregonian voters believe same-sex marriage should be legal, and another 75% believe gender identity shouldn’t influence access to healthcare– meaning the majority of our state already supports the values of this measure. Now, it’s time to take action, to turn beliefs into law, and create legal protections that guarantee these rights.

So, voters of Oregon, we need YOUR help getting the ERA on the ballot! By either signing support for the ballot measure, volunteering your time, or contributing monetary funds, you can be part of a movement that turns Oregon’s values into lasting constitutional protections.

The Democratic Party of Oregon is collecting signatures for the ballot measure right now!

Go Here To Volunteer!

You can visit the Equal Rights for All website here, and find the specific legislative changes here.