Candace Gingrich, sister of former Speaker of the U.S. House of Representatives Newt Gingrich, spoke at the University Baker Center downtown on Tuesday in an effort to champion the rights of gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender (GLBT) groups and to oppose pending federal legislation that defines marriage as between a man and a woman.
The presentation was given at a special meeting hosted by the EQuality Network, a local social justice organization that represents GLBT communities. Gingrich stopped in Oregon as a part of her work with the larger national Human Rights Campaign to educate the public and try to limit discriminatory legislation, she said.
Gingrich said an important part of the group’s work is supporting members of Congress who agree with its position.
“It’s about keeping the fair-minded legislators in office and getting the evil ones out,” she said.
Gingrich said there is currently an amendment under consideration in the U.S. Senate that could permanently define marriage as between one man and one woman in the U.S. Constitution. The bill will be voted on next month.
For a constitutional amendment to be ratified, it must obtain a two-thirds majority in both houses of Congress and be approved by three-fourths of the state legislatures.
“The idea of putting discrimination in the Constitution is, just, I find it offensive,” Gingrich said. “I don’t even want to think of the prospect of it.”
She said that one of the main problems facing the GLBT community today is dealing with public misconceptions, such as the notion that gays and lesbians only come from damaged families. She also said that people are often too quick to judge others based on stereotypes without giving them a fair chance.
During her 11 years working with the Human Rights Campaign,
Gingrich has served as a spokeswoman for the “Coming Out Project” and worked with a “Get Out the Vote” program during the election season in November 2004. She currently works with young people to involve them in the GLBT cause.
“The task is to get them from where they are to doing something about it,” Gingrich said.
Gingrich also visited Oregon State University, Lane Community College and Portland Community College during her Oregon visit.
Todd Simmons, the chair of EQuality Network, praised Gingrich’s message and said he was excited at the chance to work with her for a common goal.
“She’s a historic figure for the community,” Simmons said, and Gingrich could add “a real authentic message from someone who is in the thick of all this.”
Simmons also said he was pleased with the progress the GLBT rights movement has made in the past few decades, largely because it is an issue that many people feel so passionately about.
“It really comes from the heart for folks, and that’s why it’s as successful as it is,” he said.
Becky Flynn, another organizer with EQuality Network, said Gingrich provided an important firsthand view of the issue.
“It’s just good to hear the kind of perspective with what’s going on in Congress,” Flynn said.
Gingrich also praised the recent protests against The Register-Guard for its policy of not printing birth announcements for same-sex couples. EQuality Network was involved in the demonstration.
Gingrich supported the group’s actions and called for it to continue its work through continued activism.
“Use your voices, your votes and your passion to add to the sum of accurate information, and the final equation has to be equality,” she said.