Press releases
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Contact: Elaine Franklin
Phone: (503) 819-2647
January 29, 2014
Oregon Republicans Unite for Freedom to Marry
Launch “Freedom Oregon;” Announce NBA center Jason Collins will Headline February 20th Kick-off Event
Portland, OR – The freedom to marry is not a partisan issue. That is the message underscored by a group of Republican leaders and activists who joined together in support of the right of all Oregonians to express their love and commitment to one another through marriage. By announcing their coalition, Freedom Oregon, the group will be the voice for Republican and center-right independents who support marriage equality in Oregon.
“We are embracing the historic opportunity to extend freedom to all Oregonians,” said Elaine Franklin, a key leader in Freedom Oregon. “Love and commitment are the foundations of faith and family, and they are the values that inform our coalition’s support for the freedom to marry. We intend to take this message to Republicans in Oregon and argue that our shared values of freedom, faith, and family should persuade them to support marriage equality.”
Freedom Oregon has scheduled a kick-off event on February 20th at Cerulean Wine Bar in Portland and NBA player Jason Collins, fresh off his attendance as the First Lady’s guest at the State of the Union, will headline the event. Franklin also announced the formation of Freedom Oregon PAC, which will help fund the group’s activities, and the creation of a Freedom Oregon Facebook page with nearly 1000 followers to date.
Andrew Miller, CEO of Stimson Lumber and supporter of many Republican candidates and causes, is a member of Freedom Oregon. “By uniting for marriage equality, Freedom Oregon is showcasing Oregon Republicanism at its very best," said Miller. “Government cannot dictate who we love and it should not dictate who we marry.”
Freedom Oregon is an independent organization, but it will coordinate with the larger Oregon United for Marriage campaign and other groups focused on passage of the marriage equality initiative.
Members of the all-volunteer Freedom Oregon leadership team include:
- Former Oregon Attorney General Dave Frohnmayer
- Former Secretary of State Norma Paulus
- Former U.S. Senator Bob Packwood
- State Representative Jim Thompson
- State Representative Vicki Berger
- Ambassador Bill McCormick
- Elaine Franklin, campaign consultant
- Angela Wilhelms, former Chief of Staff to Oregon House Republican Caucus
- Doug Badger, Executive Director of Oregon Bush / Cheney ‘04
- Brianne Hyder, former Communications Director of Oregon Republican Party
- Patrick Donaldson, Multnomah County chair for Bush / Cheney ’00 and ‘04
- Carley Osborne, Political Director, Gordon Smith for U.S. Senate, 2008
- Alexis Wolfe, board member of Emerging Leaders of Oregon
- Dan Occhipinti, attorney and board member of Emerging Leaders of Oregon
- Brendan Monaghan, Political Consultant
- Tiffany Grabenhorst, Republican fundraiser
- Rich Weissman, Portland business owner
- Katy Prewitt, active Portland Republican
- James Owens, Chair of Oregon Log Cabin Republicans
- Hillary Bounds, attorney and active Portland Republican
- Tony Dal Ponte, attorney and board member of Emerging Leaders of Oregon
- Kate Firmin, former Republican National Committee staff
- Donald Handeland, Chair of Oregon State University College Republicans
- Julia Rabadi, Co-President of Young Conservatives of Oregon
For more information, please contact Elaine Franklin via email or on her cell phone at (503) 819-2647.
###
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
Log Cabin Republicans of Oregon Responds to the SCOTUS Decision on Prop 8 and DOMA
Log Cabin Republicans of Oregon
Portland, Oregon
www.logcabinoregon.weebly.org
News Release******News Release******News Release******Thursday, June 27, 2013
Portland, Oregon – Yesterday the Supreme Court of the United States issued concurrent rulings on the cases Hollingsworth v. Perry, regarding California’s Proposition 8, and United States v. Windsor, regarding the Federal Defense of Marriage Act (DOMA), deferring on grounds of standing on Proposition 8, and finding Section 3 of DOMA (limiting marriage to opposite-sex couples) unconstitutional.
James B. Owens, President of Log Cabin Republicans of Oregon, released the following statement regarding these decisions:
"Yesterday's ruling is a victory for California and the Nation and further solidifies our belief that support for the freedom to marry is not only growing among mainstream America but is also gaining traction within the conservative community. Though we still have work to do in Oregon, it says a lot that the conservative leaning court came out on the right side of history. We will continue to make the case for marriage here in Oregon, bringing attention and recognition to GOP leadership working along side us for this cause."
Lea Williams, Vice Chair of the Washington County Republican Party, sent out the following statement yesterday regarding the DOMA and Prop 8 decisions: "With the ruling of the Supreme Court we need to fight harder. This issue will not go away. It expresses my concern very well."
Owens responded to Williams' statement by saying,"This is the kind of rhetoric that more and more conservatives are getting tired of hearing. These types, who do not represent the future of the Republican Party, continue to be obsessed with fighting us on this and hurting the conservative cause. Unfortunately, it is people like Williams who are responsible for turning young voters away at a time when the Party really needs them."
Owens, despite the comments of Williams, has said that the Log Cabin Republicans of Oregon are delighted with the decision that came down yesterday and are looking forward to more victories in the future.
Press: (503) 292-4182 • [email protected]
###
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
Log Cabin Republicans of Oregon Endorses Ad Placed in Politico
Log Cabin Republicans of Oregon
Portland, Oregon
www.logcabinoregon.weebly.org
News Release******News Release******News Release******Friday, April 26, 2013
Log Cabin Republicans of Oregon officially endorses the advertisement LCR National placed in Politico yesterday. The ad calls for the Republican Party to put an end to its obsession with opposing equal rights for LGBT Americans. “It’s a brilliant ad because it portrays the party as obsessed with this issue, especially in light of what took place in Hollywood recently. Not only does the ad render those in the party against gay marriage foolish, it’s funny too,” explains James B. Owens, President of the Oregon Log Cabin chapter. Owens has been a strong supporter of same sex marriage since becoming the chapter president late last year saying, “If the party continues its anti-gay rhetoric, it will continue to alienate the more than 80 percent of voters under age 30 who are in favor of gay marriage. It’s people like me who are trying to save the party from itself.” Owens is also on the Young Conservatives for the Freedom to Marry Leadership Committee. The ad was placed in Politico on April 25th ,2013 with a cartoon showing two men standing over a small tent and a caption reading REAGAN’S BIG TENT ISN'T WHAT IT USED TO BE.
###