The Reality of Inequality
Oregon was founded as a white utopia. Our state constitution once banned Black people from living here. Sundown towns dotted our landscape. Indigenous peoples were massacred and displaced. This history shapes our present, and true equality requires more than removing discriminatory laws. It requires actively repairing the harm caused by generations of discrimination.
Rabbi Fora is committed to building systems that work for everyone. That means confronting Oregon's history while creating a future where every Oregonian has equal opportunity regardless of race, gender, sexuality, or background.
LGBTQIA2S+ Equality
"As a trans person, I'm not running despite my identity. I'm running because of what my identity has taught me about resilience, compassion, and the fight for dignity."
Rabbi Fora
Rabbi Fora would be the first openly transgender person and first rabbi to serve as Governor. This campaign is proof that Oregon is ready for authentic representation.
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Protect Trans Youth
Defend gender-affirming care from political attacks. Medical decisions belong with families and doctors, not politicians.
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Protect Intersex Youth
Ban medically unnecessary, nonconsensual surgeries on intersex youth.
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Safe Schools
Ensure every LGBTQIA2S+ student can learn in a safe environment, free from bullying and discrimination.
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Sanctuary State
Make Oregon a sanctuary for LGBTQIA2S+ people fleeing persecution in other states. No cooperation with out-of-state investigations targeting trans people or their families.
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Healthcare Access
Ensure Oregon Health Plan covers comprehensive LGBTQIA2S+ healthcare, including gender-affirming care.
Reparations for Black Oregonians
Oregon's exclusion laws, redlining, and decades of discrimination created a racial wealth gap that persists today. Acknowledgment isn't enough. We need repair.
Housing Repair
Direct investment in Black homeownership to repair the damage of redlining and predatory lending that destroyed Black generational wealth.
Business Support
Dedicated funding for Black-owned businesses and entrepreneurs, recognizing decades of exclusion from capital and opportunity.
Education Investment
Scholarships and educational programs specifically for Black Oregonians, addressing generations of underfunded schools.
Health Equity
Address health disparities caused by environmental racism and unequal access to healthcare.
Rabbi Fora will establish a Reparations Commission which will be tasked with developing a reparations plan and completing direct assistance to those affected within the first year of its creation.
Protecting Immigrants
Oregon's economy and culture depend on immigrant communities. Rabbi Fora will stand with immigrants against federal overreach and make Oregon a true sanctuary.
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No ICE Collaboration
Oregon law enforcement will not assist federal immigration enforcement. No deportation raids. No detention coordination.
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State ID for All
Ensure every Oregon resident can access state identification, regardless of immigration status.
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Worker Protections
Enforce labor laws equally for all workers. Employers cannot exploit immigration status to violate workers' rights.
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Legal Defense Fund
Consolidate as many legal defense funds as possible into a centralized, efficient distribution system from the state with enhanced funding.
Reproductive Freedom
After Roe fell, Oregon became a refuge for people seeking reproductive care. Rabbi Fora will protect and expand this legacy.
Constitutional Protection
Support amending Oregon's constitution to permanently protect reproductive rights from any future political attack.
Expand Access
Ensure reproductive healthcare is available in every Oregon county, including rural and underserved areas.
Provider Protection
Shield Oregon healthcare providers from prosecution by states seeking to criminalize reproductive care.
Sanctuary State
Protect people traveling to Oregon for reproductive care from out-of-state prosecution. Recruit providers from hostile states to provide care for Oregonians.
Disability Justice
Disability rights are civil rights. Oregon must move beyond compliance to true inclusion.
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Employment First
Expand supported employment programs and end subminimum wage for disabled workers. Every person deserves fair pay.
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Community Living
Increase funding for community-based services that allow disabled Oregonians to live independently.
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Accessibility Everywhere
Go beyond ADA minimums to ensure state facilities, websites, and services are fully accessible.
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Curb Cutout Effect by Design
We will follow the examples of inclusive design used in transportation across systems by incorporating the advice and expertise of disability advocates.
Frequently Asked Questions
Isn't talking about Oregon's racist history just divisive?
Ignoring history is what's divisive. It tells affected communities that their experiences don't matter. Oregon's exclusion laws, sundown towns, and redlining aren't ancient history; people alive today lived through their effects. Acknowledging truth is the foundation of healing, not the obstacle to it.
Why should Oregon pay reparations when slavery wasn't legal here?
Oregon's harm to Black residents was specific and documented: exclusion laws, redlining, school segregation, destruction of Black neighborhoods (like Albina in Portland), and systematic denial of opportunity. These were Oregon policies, not federal ones, and Oregon can repair them.
Won't sanctuary policies make Oregon less safe?
Research consistently shows that sanctuary jurisdictions have lower crime rates, not higher. When immigrants fear police, they don't report crimes, making everyone less safe. Sanctuary policies build trust with immigrant communities, improving public safety for all.
Questions or Feedback?
Have questions about Rabbi Fora's civil rights policy? Want to share your thoughts? We'd love to hear from you.
Fight for True Equality
Civil rights aren't given. They're won. Join Rabbi Fora in building an Oregon where everyone belongs.