Oregon voters could have a chance to enshrine the right to an abortion, same-sex marriage and gender-affirming care into the state鈥檚 constitution.
Several advocacy groups have joined efforts to gather signatures to put a measure on the 2026 ballot.
鈥淕iven the national landscape right now, we can鈥檛 take any rights for granted,鈥� said Blair Stenvick, with Basic Rights Oregon. 鈥淲e know these are Oregon values, and we think now is the time to clarify and make it really clear we believe in bodily autonomy, the freedom to let people be who they are and love who they love and get the care they need from their doctors.鈥�
The measure would repeal the current language in the state constitution that defines marriage as being between one man and one woman. on same-sex marriages in 2004. The ruling was later upheld by the U.S. Supreme Court in 2015. But proponents say a constitutional amendment would ensure a guarantee of rights and clarity that have been called into question by the conservative majority of the U.S. Supreme Court.
The groups pushing the constitutional amendment include Planned Parenthood, ACLU Oregon and Basic Rights Oregon. The advocates noted they intentionally announced this latest effort on the , allowing states across the country to impose their own restrictions on accessing an abortion.
The advocates said abortion access, gender-affirming care and marriage equality are all under attack and therefore it makes sense to clarify that all three are considered civil rights in Oregon and should be protected in the state鈥檚 constitution.
Oregon already has some of the nation鈥檚 strongest protections for abortion access and the rights of LGBTQ+ people. State laws prohibit housing and employment discrimination against gay and transgender people and require state Medicaid to cover abortions and gender-affirming care. In 2017, Oregon lawmakers codified the right to access an abortion into state law. People are also able to access an abortion with no gestational limit.
Republican opposition led to walkout
the effort became tied to the longest legislative walkout in the state鈥檚 history by conservative lawmakers.
Many Republican lawmakers voiced concerns about how a constitutional amendment would impact the rights of minors and parental consent. Basically, they were worried it would block parents from having a say in the treatment of minors who might try to access gender-affirming care or from accessing abortion services. The proposed constitutional amendment does not explicitly mention minors or any issue of parental consent.
鈥淚鈥檝e been standing up for abortion access and LGBTQ+ rights my entire adult life 鈥� and make no mistake, this fight affects us all and it鈥檚 far from over,鈥� Lane County Commissioner Laurie Trieger, one of the chief petitioners, said in a statement. 鈥淎s a mother, grandmother, openly queer woman, and a local elected leader, it鈥檚 my honor and responsibility to be a chief petitioner for this historic campaign. I鈥檓 doing this for the sake of my daughter, my grandsons, and for all Oregonians.鈥�
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