Fifty-four percent of Oregonians say
they would vote to legalize gay marriage.
According to a Public
Policy Polling released Friday, a large majority of Oregon voters
(77%) believe the issue should be put up to a vote, while 14 percent
disagree. Nine percent said they were not sure. Fifty-four percent
said such unions should be legal, and 40 percent remain opposed.
Jeana Frazzini, executive director of
Basic Rights Oregon, the state's largest gay rights advocate,
recently told The Oregonian that her group is “likely” to
back a 2014 campaign to repeal the state's 2004 voter-approved
constitutional amendment defining marriage as a heterosexual union.
But the effort might wait a little
longer if activists take pollster Tim Hibbits' advice.
“They will definitely do better in a
high turnout election, because it would bring out younger voters who
are more comfortable with gay marriage,” he said. “They would
have a chance in 2014, but it's a much dicier proposition for them
because of the turnout mix.”
Since 2007, Oregon has recognized gay
couples with domestic partnerships.
(Related: Oregon
House elects Tina Koteck speaker; first openly lesbian leader.)