In a surprise move, Equal Rights Oregon and its partners announced they are ending their campaign to qualify Initiative Petition 33, a high-profile ballot initiative that sought to amend the Oregon Constitution to enshrine protections for reproductive rights, gender identity, and sexual orientation.

The coalition behind the “Equal Rights for All” effort posted on Instagram that “after thoughtful consideration,” it will **not move forward with IP 33 for the 2026 ballot,” despite more than a year of organizing and signature gathering.

Initiative Petition 33 had aimed to add language to Oregon’s constitution guaranteeing that equal rights “shall not be denied or abridged” on account of pregnancy and related health decisions, gender identity, or sexual orientation — and would have repealed an outdated constitutional ban on same-sex marriage that remains on the books despite being unenforceable under federal law.

In the announcement, campaign leaders expressed gratitude to volunteers and supporters statewide, citing the breadth of their coalition and the challenging national political climate. They said the decision reflects a strategic shift to “pursue a different short-term strategy in our ongoing fight for full and equal rights.”

The push to qualify IP 33 faced mounting difficulties throughout its run. Despite endorsements from civil liberties groups, including the American Civil Liberties Union of Oregon, Basic Rights Oregon, Planned Parenthood Action of Oregon, and labor unions, the campaign struggled to turn public support into formal signatures. Reports indicate the initiative spent substantial resources but submitted a fraction of the valid signatures required to qualify for the ballot.

Oregon law requires over 156,000 valid signatures to place a constitutional amendment on the ballot for a general election, and by late January, the campaign had turned in only a small percentage of that number — far short of the threshold.

The coalition did not offer a detailed explanation for the cancellation beyond the general statement in its social post. Analysts suggest a combination of organizational, political, and cultural factors, including voter division on specific elements like gender-affirming care, may have made signature gathering more difficult than anticipated.

Campaign backers also acknowledged the emotional toll of the decision, especially for LGBTQ+, transgender, and reproductive rights advocates who had championed the cause. But they stressed that Oregon still has strong statutory protections for those rights, even if they are not yet enshrined in the state constitution.

With the IP 33 campaign concluding, coalition organizers say they will regroup and pursue alternative strategies for advancing equal rights protections in Oregon. That may include legislative efforts or future ballot measures.

Supporters and critics alike are now watching how lawmakers and advocacy groups adjust their approaches, especially as national debates on reproductive health and LGBTQ+ rights continue to evolve.