"letters to the editor" The Eugene "Red Register Guard" The
Portland Oregonian
Dear Editor
As we go about our daily routine of providing a living for our family(s) a society,
under the veil of human rights issues, is eroding a segment of our standard of living. The
carefully placed announcement by the R.G. Dec. 10ths publication concerning a
‘Gay Rights Victory’, quotes Jean Harris, Executive Director of the ‘Basic
Rights Oregon’ a homosexual organization ( I purposely use the term
‘homosexual’ because the word ‘Gay’ is a manifestation of this
lifestyle, not the publics.), as saying "The State court gave us a ban on
discrimination stronger than anything we could introduce in the past 23 years." The
Oregon Supreme Court has ruled that ‘Job Discrimination’ based on ‘Sexual
Orientation’ is illegal throughout the State. This latest ruling, making
‘Domestic Partners’ eligible for State sponsored health benefits, has far
reaching impacts that the average citizen is unaware of. What is a ‘domestic
partner’? To my knowledge this issue has never been addressed. Is a domestic partner
a Wife? Husband? Girl Friend? Boyfriend, Your Pet? How long must one co-habitate with
another before this ‘Domestic Partner’ becomes effective? Can we ‘ash
can’ one and move in another at will? Or can some ‘single’ individual move
in an Aids positive friend to take advantage of the liberal and generous Health Plan
offered to governmental employees of this State? With Aids positive patient care
approaching 1 Million dollars per case, the potential ramification of this decision, which
by the way was never ratified by popular vote, could drive HMO programs out of the realm
of the average taxpayer and their families. No one wishes ill will to another and most of
us would be more than generous in helping those who cannot help themselves but to place a
burden on our State resources in the guise of ‘Human Rights’ issues is not only
fraudulent, it creates an atmosphere, that left unfettered, could open a door to abuses
not yet imagined.
John
Caudill
