Oregon Attorney General Rules Against Backers of Anti-Gay 'Religious Freedom' Ballot Measure

Oregon Attorney General Ellen Rosenblum sided against proponents of an Oregon ballot measure that would allow faith-based exemptions to non-discrimination laws, The Oregonian reports. Proponents had avoided ballot measure language that mentioned the word 'discrimination' in their 'Protect Religious Freedom Initiative'.

Rosenblum disagreed, issuing a ballot title that reads:

“Religious belief” exceptions to anti-discrimination laws for refusing services, other, for same-sex ceremonies, “arrangements”

This was the language sought by opponents of the ballot measure such as Oregon United for Marriage as it "makes clear this measure creates exemptions to non-discrimination laws." Ballot supporters such as Friends of Religious Freedom, however, object to the title, claiming that the mention of discrimination is "politically charged" and that the unfair wording will stigmatize the measure. It's very likely they'll appeal to the Oregon Supreme Court.

It is also likely that opponents, though the language is close to that which was sought, will also appeal the ballot measure title to the Supreme Court as the appeal would delay proponents from the start of collecting the 87,213 signatures needed to qualify for the ballot.