"Rep. Richardson makes a vulgar comparison insulting to not only Oregonians, but to those most deeply impacted by the massacre." - Aisling Coghlan, Basic Rights Oregon
(SALEM) - Aisling Coghlan, Interim Executive Director of Basic Rights Oregon, issued the following statement today in reaction to the recent comments by Oregon State Representative Dennis Richardson (R- Central Point) in a weekly newsletter to his district.
In the newsletter, Richardson made a "reprehensible comparison" between the massacre at Virginia Tech last week and the passage of a Domestic Partnership bill (HB 2007) and a statewide anti-discrimination bill (SB 2).
In a newsletter titled "A Tragic Week in Review", Rep. Dennis Richardson stated, "This past week has been like no other. On Monday the world witnessed the tragedy at Virginia Tech in Blacksburg, Virginia. On Tuesday Oregon witnessed the passage of Domestic Benefits for same-sex couples (HB 2007) and Civil Rights based on sexual orientation."
Said Coghlan, "While our nation mourns the unprecedented loss of life at Virginia Tech, and tries to recover from the enormity of this loss, Rep. Richardson makes a vulgar comparison insulting to not only Oregonians, but to those most deeply impacted by the massacre. For Richardson to say that protecting Oregon families in times of crisis is equivalent to the mass murder of some of the best and brightest America has to offer is beyond extremely distasteful--it is outright abhorrent."
Basic Rights Oregon's members say their thoughts and prayers are with the students, faculty, families and entire school community as they recover from this devastating event at Virginia Tech.
Oregon Lawmaker Compares VA Tech Massacre to Passage of Gay Rights LegislationSalem-News.com