Sponsored by: Michelle Risher and Chris Wig, on behalf of the DPO Stonewall Caucus and the Democratic Party of Lane County Approved: 06/10/2018
A RESOLUTION OF THE DEMOCRATIC PARTY OF OREGON
WHEREAS, the history of our nation, includes the weaponization of religion to discriminate, persecute, prosecute, deport, deny entrance, enslave others, or wreak physical violence and death; and,
WHEREAS, freedom of religion is being misused to license discrimination, persecution, and prosecution against members of the LGBTQ+ community in the form of proposed legislation such as bathroom bills, First Amendment Defense Acts, or Religious Freedom Restoration Acts; and,
WHEREAS, lobbying by evangelical political organizations (e.g., The Heritage Foundation) and Donald Trump’s Evangelical Advisory Board have led to a ban of transgender persons from military service; and,
WHEREAS, freedom of religion is used by religious organizations, businesses, corporations, governors, and members of national and state legislatures to deny women access to contraception, family planning, and the right to choose, along with denying transgender persons access to the healthcare, counseling, and hormonal services provided by women’s healthcare organizations (i.e. Planned Parenthood); and,
WHEREAS, Freedom of religion includes freedom from religion and one person’s freedom of religion ends where that of another begins.
NOW, THEREFORE, THE DEMOCRATIC PARTY OF OREGON RESOLVES
Section 1: No person, church, religion, political organization, business, or corporate entity has a Constitutional or “God-given” right to abrogate the rights of others, or to impress their religious beliefs upon any other person.
Section 2: The right of all persons to life, liberty and pursuit of happiness can neither be denied nor legislated away.
Section 3: Legislation shall be enacted to protect and preserve the rights of all inhabitants and visitors to our state and nation from religiously based discrimination, regardless of race, creed, national origin, ethnicity, immigration status, physical ability, sexual orientation, gender identity, or binary and non-binary genders.
