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The 2013 June Newsletter can be found here.


Two decisions were announced Wednesday by the U.S. Supreme Court on the issue of marriage.

These cases are a victory for loving, married couples and their families — and for equal justice under the law. The Supreme Court affirmed that all loving and committed couples who marry deserve equal legal respect and treatment. Today the justices ruled on the right side of history.

Our country is on a journey of understanding. As more people talk to gay and lesbian friends and family about why marriage matters, they’re coming to realize that this is not a political issue. This is about encouraging long term loving and committed relationships.

There is a groundswell of momentum. Our neighboring state Washington and other states recently have extended the freedom to marry to every loving and committed couple. A number of foreign countries have done likewise. Polls show a growing majority believe all loving and committed couples should have the freedom to marry. And this ruling hopefully brings us one step closer to winning the freedom to marry in Oregon.

Marriage matters because it strengthens families. Marriage says “we are family” in a way that no other word does and is a fundamental freedom. It is as basic as the Golden Rule: treating others as one would want to be treated includes allowing marriage for gay and lesbian couples who are truly committed to each other. We are hopeful that Oregon will be the first state to rescind a constitutional amendment limiting the freedom to marry.

Even though these decisions are significant, they also underscore the work still to be done here in Oregon. We must continue our campaign to make marriage legal for all couples in Oregon, regardless of gender. One of the cases announced, United States v. Windsor, (the DOMA case), holds that if a couple is legally married under state law, they are also married for federal purposes. The implications are significant: a couple legally married under state law (regardless of gender) would be able to file joint tax returns, receive social security spousal benefits, receive the spousal deduction under the estate tax laws, etc. But such equality under federal law cannot be available for same-sex couples in Oregon until we change the state constitutional provision limiting the freedom to marry.

The 2013 May Newsletter can be found here.


Three items of note–

1. Wednesday, May 8. PFLAG Meeting at 7 PM at St. Stephen’s Church with program on bullying. We will have a short film followed by discussion. Do you have tales of bullying to share?

2. Saturday, May 11, Farmer’s Market Table. We’re getting ready for the Saturday Market season–PFLAG and the Welcoming Congregations will have a table on the second Saturday of each month–May through Oct. First date is May 11. Can you help staff a table for a few hours for one of those Saturdays? Send an e-mail ASAP to brent.burford@gmail.com and we’ll get everyone scheduled.

3. Sunday, May 19, Just the Girls Coffee Hour 11 AM. For for OUT Oregon Coast coffee this month, a change. The OUT Oregon Coast LGBT Women’s Coffee Hour is switching day & location this month–It will be a Sunday gathering instead of the usual Tuesdays–it will be:

Just the Girls Coffee Hour Sunday May 19th 11am-Noonish Green Salmon, 220 Hwy 101 in Yachats. For more information on that, contact pamela@pamelamadison.com

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Additional calendar items—

OCC PFLAG Calendar

Monday, May 6, 3:30 – 6:30 pm: BBQ Fundraiser for Pink Prom (for LGBTQ-&-friends high school students) and UO TeachOut Conference—South Eugene High School Parking Lot

May 8, 7:00 pm: PFLAG Meeting, ( Short film on bullying followed by discussion)—St. Stephen’s, 9th & Hurbert, Newport

May 11: PFLAG and Welcoming Congregations Table at Newport Saturday Market

May 19, 11:00 am-Noonish: Just the Girls Coffee Hour—Green Salmon, Yachats

June 4, 9:00 am: OUT Lesbian Coffee—Coffee House, Newport Bayfront

June 12, 7:00 pm: PFLAG Meeting—St. Stephen’s, 9th & Hurbert, Newport

June 18, 9:00 am: OUT on the Oregon Coast for Lesbians–Green Salmon, Yachats

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The Coastal AIDS Network* monthly activities: –Second Tuesday, 7:00 pm: “Activity Night” (call for information (541)994-5597) –Third Tuesday, 7:00 pm: “Pizza Night” (Newport Abbey’s Pizza) –Fourth Tuesday, 7:00 pm: “Men’s Pot Luck” (Locations vary! Call (541)994-5597 or email coastalaidsnetwork@gmail.com for information) –We also try to have pizza in Tillamook or Pacific City. Email Dan, coastalaidsnetwork@gmail.com or leave a message for him at (541)994-5597.

*CAN activities are open to everyone, regardless of HIV status or sexual orientation except for “Men’s Pot Luck.” Occasionally we bend that rule for special events.

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