AllenOyler.jpg

Allen Oyler is the recipient of the 2013 Beaverton Human Rights Award.

(Kari Bray/Beaverton Leader)

Same-sex relationships, a topic capable of dividing religious communities, should never divide families.

That’s the message Allen Oyler aims to share with Beaverton’s Mormon community.

Oyler, president of the Beaverton Stake of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, received this year’s Beaverton Human Rights Award. He will be recognized by city leaders on Tuesday, Jan. 14, just after 6 p.m. at City Hall.

Rob Solomon, outgoing Human Rights Advisory Commission chair, said commissioners were impressed by Oyler's efforts to reach out to gay members of the Mormon church. Oyler put together presentations and a panel discussion about keeping families together when a son, daughter or other member comes out to their loved ones. The church considers it a sin to act on a same-sex attraction, though the attraction itself is not necessarily a sin in Mormonism.



Commissioners also considered then-Rep. Chris Harker for the award due to his work on immigration issues in the Oregon Legislature, Solomon said. Harker sponsored a bill to allow state drivers' licenses for people without proof of legal residency and co-sponsored legislation to gain resident, in-state tuition for undocumented immigrants.

Though both men deserve recognition, Solomon said, the commission selected Oyler.

Oyler sat down with the Beaverton Leader on Wednesday, Jan. 8, to talk about the Human Rights Award and his mission in the church.

Note: Responses have been edited for brevity and clarity.

Q: What was your reaction when you learned you were selected for the award?

Q: What surprised you about it?

Q: Tell me about the events you coordinated. What would you do differently, and what would you keep the same?

Q: What was the inspiration behind these events?

Q: What message were you trying to get across in your presentations?

Q: What kind of response did you get after the presentations?

Q: Do you think this is something you might do again in the future?

Q: Going back to the city's Human Rights Award, what are some things you think the Beaverton community could do to advance human rights as a whole?

--Kari Bray