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In 1992, the Oregon Citizens Alliance put Measure 9 on the ballot. Measure 9 tried to change the state constitution to create second-class citizenship for gays and lesbians. We knew that writing second-class citizenship into the Oregon constitution was not only a threat to the gay and lesbian community, but an attack on inclusive democracy. If passed, Measure 9 would have set a precedent, putting other groups at risk of losing civil rights. Thousands of people took action and ultimately defeated Ballot Measure 9.

Prioritizing Rural in Ballot Measure Campaigns

ROP Founder Marcy Westerling talks about how rural was not a priority for Oregon’s urban-based political campaigns in the 1990s.

From “ROP History Overview,” Rural Organizing Voices

I wanted to organize in response to the anti-choice ballot measures. I thought, we’re not going to have a repeat of what happened, and so I approached the pro-choice groups and said, “Hey! Here I am! I’ll be your lead in Columbia County.” Well, the most amazing thing happened, which happened a lot back in those days, which was: I was told I wasn’t needed. That Columbia County was not a part of the election plan. Our voters didn’t matter. It ended with: “But hey! Would love to have you, Marcy! So you can come to our next meeting in Portland, or this is where you could send a check.” I think that last part is a mantra that we’ve all kinda experienced. Really?! A free volunteer for an entire county?!

Marcy Westerling insisted that the “No on 9” campaign include rural communities. She began connecting with other rural leaders and together they built community groups across the state to challenge Measure 9. Human dignity groups and organizers around rural Oregon built this network into the Rural Organizing Project (ROP). For three decades, ROP has supported local volunteer-run groups working to advance democracy and human dignity.

1992 Ballot Measure 9 “Amends constitution: Government cannot facilitate, must discourage homosexuality, other ‘behaviors.’" SUMMARY - Amends Oregon Constitution. All governments in Oregon may not use their monies or properties to promote, encourage or facilitate homosexuality, pedophilia, sadism, or masochism. All levels of government, including public education systems, must assist in setting a standard for Oregon’s youth which recognizes that these “behaviors” are “abnormal, wrong, unnatural and perverse” and that they are to be discouraged and avoided. State may not recognize this conduct under “sexual orientation” or “sexual preference” labels, or through "quotas, minority status, affirmative action, or similar concepts.”

We talk to our neighbors to identify not only the root of the problem, but also how to solve it together.

Living Rooms & Kitchen Tables

Rural people have gathered at kitchen tables and in living rooms for generations.

Since 1992, nearly every issue ROP has worked on started with conversations in kitchens and living rooms across Oregon.

Marcy Westerling describes the first three rural living room conversations.

From “The First Living Room Conversations,” Rural Organizing Voices

When I went to my grocery store and my post office, which were the only post office and only grocery store in the town at the time, and both of them had a huge eight-by-four sign saying, “Do you believe homosexuality isn’t a, a sin?” That’s when I called up Suzanne Pharr, not as my usual effort to be a mature person, but instead as an outraged, angry person, saying, “When the fuck are you getting your ass out here to help us?” And she and Scott Nakagawa showed up the next day, and we made a plan and the plan was really simple. And ever since ROP’s actually been fairly simple. We would have three coffees, one in Scappoose, one in Vernonia. That was Scappoose, St. Helens and Claskanie, were the initial three living room conversations, which to this day continues to describe a process of, you know, trying to requisition other neighbors who you think might have that uh-oh feeling in their gut, bring them into a shared space that feels kind of safe to you know, be stupid, be sloppy, be whatever, and try and process the moment. What I think Suzanne and Scott really gifted ROP in that moment is not just starting with kind of like, aren’t you pissed, aren’t you scared, aren’t you this, you know, let’s run do something, but instead really taking the time to say, “How can this be happening?” “Let’s share a story.”

Building Bridges Across Oregon

In 1992, Marcy and her collaborators crisscrossed the state, meeting with anyone who wanted to organize against Measure 9. Sometimes they gathered with 80 people, other times with just three or four.

HUMAN DIGNITY GROUPS: local, self-directed groups of volunteer leaders

Starting conversations about the issues that matter is a core part of how ROP supports local, self-directed groups of volunteer leaders—what we call human dignity groups—in rural communities across the state.

Building Bridges Across Oregon

In 1992, Marcy and her collaborators crisscrossed the state, meeting with anyone who wanted to organize against Measure 9. Sometimes they gathered with 80 people, other times with just three or four.

Starting conversations about the issues that matter is a core part of how ROP supports local, self-directed groups of volunteer leaders—what we call human dignity groups—in rural communities across the state.

HUMAN DIGNITY GROUPS: local, self-directed groups of volunteer leaders

National civil rights leader Suzanne Pharr shares the story of the first conversations across Oregon that led to the formation of the Rural Organizing Project.

From “Taking Risks,” Rural Roots Rising

Marcy had, this great commitment to rural people. And I had this great commitment to rural people that I was born and raised in the South, on a farm, and never lost that deep devotion to and commitment to rural people. And so she had this idea that we could actually move something or build something that would work with rural people to raise consciousness and involvement and so her idea was what became the Rural Organizing Project.

She and I, and Scot Nakagawa and Pat McGuire got in my little 1981 Honda wagon and drove around the state, to talk to people, to see sort of who was out there. It was quite, quite a little crowd. It was a little car and a very fun and wonderful foursome. And we thought that was a critical thing to do, was to see both who’s there and possible.

And I always, always think it was symbolic that in that car, that little wagon taking that first trip out, it was two people of color and two white people who got in that car and made the trip. I think that very trip was indicative of the dream of ROP. To get out into the country, the rural towns, talk to the people. Be multiracial, be multi-issue. Gear up because this is what’s coming.

Speaking Out Together Against Division

Many groups published signature ads in their local newspapers to show broad community opposition to Measure 9.

ROP in Action!

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