RESOLUTION NO. 2004-35

A RESOLUTION OPPOSING STATE INITIATIVE BALLOT MEASURE 36

Recitals:

A. The City of Ashland established a Registry for Domestic Partners on October 5, 1999 in which approximately 50 couples have registered.

B. The City of Ashland extends its benefit package to registered domestic partners who are employed by the City.

C. The City of Ashland values diversity in the community. Gays and lesbians, like all other residents, contribute to the economic and cultural vitality of our City as volunteers, workers of all kinds, business owners, and families with children.

D. The Oregon Constitution is designed to protect all citizens.

E. The Oregon Constitution Article 1 (Bill of Rights), Section 20 presently reads: "No law shall be passed granting to any citizen or class of citizens privileges or immunities, which upon the same terms, shall not equally belong to all citizens."

F. Constitutional Amendment Ballot Measure 36 proposes to revise the Oregon Constitution to authorize unequal treatment of citizens; that is inconsistent with and contradictory of Article 1. .

G Constitutional Amendment Ballot Measure 36 defines marriage in terms that prohibits gay and lesbian citizens in Oregon from entering into that civil contract.

H. Constitutional Amendment Ballot Measure 36 would deny many Oregon families health care access, inheritance rights and the ability to make life-saving medical decisions for their loved ones.

I. The citizens of Ashland and Oregon may disagree about social issues, such as marriage. Those disagreements do not belong in the state Constitution.

J. Passage of Measure 36 may threaten to ability of the City to offer benefits to same sex couples.

THE CITY OF ASHLAND RESOLVES AS FOLLOWS:

Section 1. We believe that it is inadvisable and unacceptable to introduce discrimination toward a class of citizens into our state Constitution; and

Section 2. We oppose the passage of Measure 36; and

Section 3. We encourage voters to study the Measure and fully understand its impacts prior to voting to put unequal treatment into the Oregon Constitution.

Section 4. This resolution takes effect upon signing by the Mayor.

This resolution was read by title only in accordance with Ashland Municipal Code Section 2.04.090 duly

PASSED AND ADOPTED this 19 day of October, 2004;

Barbara Christensen, City Recorder

SIGNED AND APPROVED this 22 day of October, 2004;

Cate Hartzell, Council Chair

Reviewed as to form:

Michael W. Franell, City Attorney