Statements in voters' pamphlet upset backers of Oregon marriage amendment

Four satirical statements appearing in the Oregon Voters' Pamphlet have upset supporters of a ban on same-sex marriage. One, submitted by the phony "Defense of Heterosexual Breeding Coalition," reads, "The Bible states that marriage is for procreation" and adds that Oregon should bar gays, infertile people, men with vasectomies, and others from marrying. Fred Neal, Voters' Pamphlet supervisor for the secretary of state, said such ballot argument pranks have happened before. His office can't yank such a statement unless it violates state law, which bans "obscene, profane, and defamatory language" or words that "incite hatred, abuse, or violence." The Defense of Marriage Coalition, sponsor of the measure to amend the state's constitution to outlaw same-sex marriage, has urged the state to cut the statements. Kelly Clark, attorney for the group, told The Oregonian that the state would not tolerate "such language targeted at the Jewish community, the Islamic community, or anybody except the conservative Christian community." The author of the four voter guide statements is M. Dennis Moore, a Portland freelance book editor and church organist. He said he's simply using satire, "a very ancient literary device to ridicule hypocrisy."