Members of the Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Queer Alliance and supporters marched around campus for about an hour Wednesday afternoon to protest Tuesday’s passage of Measure 36, which defines marriage in Oregon as a union between one man and one woman.
Holding rainbow flags and hand-painted signs, about 40 marchers shouted anti-Measure 36 slogans as they toured campus. Many bystanders clapped and shouted encouragement as the marchers passed; the demonstration also drew wary and bewildered looks.
The marchers, who traveled together by holding onto a rainbow-colored strand of yarn, circled campus during the march, trekking through Johnson Hall and the Lillis Business Complex on their route.
“Two, four, six, eight, Lane does not discriminate,” marchers yelled in unison with the aid of a bullhorn. “Discriminate against a few and this democracy is through.”
One marcher, Student Senator Emily Sousa, said she was angered and frustrated by the passage of the measure, which she said is an attempt to deal with a topic people don’t want to address.
“As much as things may be legislated, it doesn’t mean they’ll go away,” she said. “We’re still here and we’re still fighting.”
She said the march comprised “a lot of enraged people who were affected” by the measure, adding that she thought many people who voted for the measure are probably not directly affected by it.
“It’s been a very emotional last few hours since this all started,” Sousa said.
Sophomore Chelsea Morrisey, who wore a cross and a white anti-Measure 36 garment during the march, said she will be at a legal disadvantage after Measure 36. She said the state “shouldn’t be backing discrimination.”
“In my opinion, there’s no reason because I’m gay I should be treated differently than anyone else,” she said.
Morrisey added that marchers suffer discrimination because of some people’s “contradictory” religious beliefs.
“We’ve been crucified under religious contexts, and I think that’s against everything I know about Christianity,” she said.
She said the march was well received.
“Overall, people seemed pretty supportive,” she said. “There’s no reason for them not to be.”
Junior Taylor Morden, who observed the march on East 13th Avenue, said he was “impressed” by the demonstration. Morden said he thought Oregon would be the only one of 11 states with same-sex measures on the ballot to defeat a constitutional amendment banning same-sex marriage.
“I was really surprised, but that probably comes from living in Eugene,” he said. “We’re just as bad as everyone else.”

Graduate student Sean Parson, who witnessed the march, said he supported the marchers because he “can’t believe we just voted to discriminate” against gay people.
“I’m glad they’re doing it,” he said. “Someone has to talk about it.”
Doctoral student Sarah Jaquette agreed, saying she was glad the demonstrators came through the Lillis Business Complex.
“I think there should be more
of it,” she said. “They should be
outraged.”
Jaquette said she was surprised the measure passed and had been trying not to remind herself it was successful.
Not everyone agreed with the marchers. Wearing a Bush campaign button, junior Elizabeth Arwood said she approached the marchers, clapped and yelled “Yes on 36.”
“The freedom of speech doesn’t just apply to liberals,” she said. “The will of the people have spoken.”
Arwood said the matter has already been settled by the measure.
“There’s really nothing they can do,” Arwood said. “If the majority of people are against (same-sex marriage), they have no legal ground to contest it.”
Junior Keith Bryan agreed.
“They’re definitely very driven for their cause, and you can’t blame them for that,” he said, emphasizing that “this is all they can do. The state has spoken.”
LGBTQA Co-Director Crystal Cathcart said the march was a success.
“I think it was fantastic,” she said. “A bunch of people came and joined us.”
Cathcart said her organization, which was not able to officially speak out against the measure
before the election because it is funded by student incidental fees, is now able to voice its concerns.
“It’s not a relief since it passed, but it’s nice to get stuff off our chests,” she said.

[email protected]