Openly gay NBA veteran Jason Collins
will attend a kick-off event next month for a nascent Oregon gay
marriage group which includes several Republicans.
Freedom Oregon will help support a
ballot initiative which seeks to repeal the state's 2004
voter-approved constitutional amendment limiting marriage to
heterosexual couples.
The
Oregonian reported that the group includes several
Republicans and is being organized by Elaine Franklin, the wife of
former Senator Bob Packwood, a Republican.
Franklin, who considers herself an
independent, said the group is “clearly fighting against the
national brand” of the Republican Party, which is officially
opposed to same-sex marriage. “But Oregon Republicans have done
this before,” she added.
Freedom Oregon will hold its kick-off
event in Portland on February 20 at the Cerulean Wine Bar.