Tuesday, September 22, 2009
Homo Court Fast-Tracks R-71 Case
Posted by Dominic Holden on Tue, Sep 22, 2009 at 2:17 PM
The 9th US Circuit Court of Appeals agreed today to expedite a case about releasing the names and addresses of everyone who signed Referendum 71. A three-judge panel will hear oral arguments on October 14 in Pasadena, California. Each side will have 15 minutes to present their case.
By signing R-71 petitions, voters indicated that a law to extend the state-granted rights of marriage to same-sex partners should be put on the ballot, ultimately in an attempt to repeal them. But in a bizarre twist of hypocrisy, anti-gay Protect Marriage Washington now claims that the signers are a minority—because they were trying to limit rights of a minority, you see—at risk of harm if their identities are released.
Washington State Attorney General Rob McKenna doesn't buy the claim—arguing the state's open-government laws trump fears of people who put their name on a public document—and attorneys from his office will argue before the federal court. The Washington Coalition for Open Government, a nonprofit run by former state representative Toby Nixon, is also arguing to release the names of R-71 signers.
"The bottom line for us is that we will do what is necessary to protect our public records law," says AG office spokesman Dan Sytman. Will they take the case to the Supreme Court if they lose this round? Sytman couldn't confirm, but said, "We are very serious about defending our public records law, so I think we have a record for going the distance on that."
The case stems from Brian Murphy, who blogs as the Gay Curmudgeon, filing a records request for the petitions in late July. He intended to post the information on WhoSigned.org, thereby enabling gay people to civilly confront those who signed the petition.
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1
Your names, addresses and signatures, ye panderers of hate, shall be posted next to the Fremont Bridge.
There is no escape.
The light of day shall shine forth and bear public witness.
This is what it means to live in our state.
There is no escape.
The light of day shall shine forth and bear public witness.
This is what it means to live in our state.
4
They do this sort of outreach thing in Oregon:
I haven't heard of any crimes or intimidation against those 15,000 people that BRO talked to this summer.
I'm certain that given the lack of credible evidence of retaliation or intimidation, the panel will err on the side of upholding the state's public disclosure laws.
This summer Basic Rights Oregon and The Bus Project are teaming up to talk to 15,000 Oregonians about marriage. It’s the largest marriage equality education project that our community has ever undertaken outside of a ballot measure.
To win public support for the freedom to marry, we need to open up a real dialogue with regular Oregonians. This means talking to people face-to-face, and explaining why marriage matters to committed gay and lesbian couples.
I haven't heard of any crimes or intimidation against those 15,000 people that BRO talked to this summer.
I'm certain that given the lack of credible evidence of retaliation or intimidation, the panel will err on the side of upholding the state's public disclosure laws.
5
Dear Christianity, 'pro-Marriage' associations, and other affiliates-
This is Buddhism speaking. Part of our doctrine involves karma. When you get past the weird oriental mysticism, you might find that karma has a basis in logic.
This might be your first experience with it, I don't know! Regardless, when you spend millenia keeping a stranglehold on humanity in general and impeding scientific progress, eventually people will wise up and realize you're trying to bend a potentially-benevolent text into a crock of crap. We don't like it. And when we call you out on it, you'll still probably try and scurry away, but we'll catch you. It's about time, too, there's dues to be paid.
In short- get used to it.
Lots of love, because we love everyone,
Buddhism
This is Buddhism speaking. Part of our doctrine involves karma. When you get past the weird oriental mysticism, you might find that karma has a basis in logic.
This might be your first experience with it, I don't know! Regardless, when you spend millenia keeping a stranglehold on humanity in general and impeding scientific progress, eventually people will wise up and realize you're trying to bend a potentially-benevolent text into a crock of crap. We don't like it. And when we call you out on it, you'll still probably try and scurry away, but we'll catch you. It's about time, too, there's dues to be paid.
In short- get used to it.
Lots of love, because we love everyone,
Buddhism
6
"thereby enabling gay people to civilly confront those who signed the petition"
hey dom, you're great but can you please stop assuming that only gay people have a problem with these bigots?
hey dom, you're great but can you please stop assuming that only gay people have a problem with these bigots?
7
Please forward widely…
Seattle LGBT Equality Weekend October 10 – 11, 2009
Seattle OUTProtest has brought together a grassroots coalition of gay, lesbian, bisexual, transgendered and straight people and organizations to organize a series of solidarity events to coincide with the National March for Equality this October.
March and Rally
Forty years after the Stonewall Rebellion, we march in solidarity with our brothers and sisters and allies in Washington, DC to demand equal protection in all matters governed by civil law in all 50 states and to show our public support for the Approval of Referendum 71 here in Washington state.
Sunday, October 11
2:00 pm: Volunteer Park, 10th Ave E & E Prospect
5:00 pm: Rally, Federal Courthouse, 7th & Stewart
Thinking Queerly: Community Workshops on LGBT Issues
Community organizers and activists will present a series of workshops on a range of issues affecting the lgbt community including Stonewall and lgbt movement history, homelessness, hate crimes and self defense, lgbt health, Don’t Ask Don’t Tell, lgbt legal issues, Gay-Straight Alliances, marriage equality, and more.
Saturday, October 10
9:30 am to 5 pm
Piggot Auditorium, Seattle University
HIV/AIDS Vigil
As the AIDS pandemic nears its fourth decade, we gather to educate and raise awareness about the continued struggles of people living with HIV/AIDS and their families, friends, and support networks as well as to demand all resources and all funding necessary for prevention, treatment, and a cure.
Saturday, October 10
Starting at 6 pm
Seattle Central Community College South Plaza, Broadway & E Pine
Generation Q Mega Mixer
Come mingle and mix with seasoned leaders and activists of the GLBTQ community at the Generation Q Mega Mixer. Young leaders (25 and under please) will have the opportunity to socialize, learn from, and quite possibly have a dance off with some of the community's most inspiring members in a relaxed social environment.
Sunday, October 11
6:30 pm
Sole Repair Shop, 1001 E Pike
Seattle LGBT Equality Weekend March & Rally
http://nationalmarch.seattleoutprotest.o…
Get involved with one of our planning committees! Contact for more time and details:
March/Rally Committee, March@seattleoutprotest.org
Workshops Committee, Workshops@seattleoutprotest.org
Outreach Committee, Outreach@seattleoutprotest.org
Mixer Committee, Mixer@seattleoutprotest.org
HIV/AIDS Vigil Committee, Vigil@seattleoutprotest.org
Biweekly General Organizing Meetings, please contact whitney@seattleoutprotest.org for time and location.
National Equality March: Equality Across America
www.equalityacrossamerica.org
Approve Referendum 71
Keep the Domestic Partnership Law
More...
Seattle LGBT Equality Weekend October 10 – 11, 2009
Seattle OUTProtest has brought together a grassroots coalition of gay, lesbian, bisexual, transgendered and straight people and organizations to organize a series of solidarity events to coincide with the National March for Equality this October.
March and Rally
Forty years after the Stonewall Rebellion, we march in solidarity with our brothers and sisters and allies in Washington, DC to demand equal protection in all matters governed by civil law in all 50 states and to show our public support for the Approval of Referendum 71 here in Washington state.
Sunday, October 11
2:00 pm: Volunteer Park, 10th Ave E & E Prospect
5:00 pm: Rally, Federal Courthouse, 7th & Stewart
Thinking Queerly: Community Workshops on LGBT Issues
Community organizers and activists will present a series of workshops on a range of issues affecting the lgbt community including Stonewall and lgbt movement history, homelessness, hate crimes and self defense, lgbt health, Don’t Ask Don’t Tell, lgbt legal issues, Gay-Straight Alliances, marriage equality, and more.
Saturday, October 10
9:30 am to 5 pm
Piggot Auditorium, Seattle University
HIV/AIDS Vigil
As the AIDS pandemic nears its fourth decade, we gather to educate and raise awareness about the continued struggles of people living with HIV/AIDS and their families, friends, and support networks as well as to demand all resources and all funding necessary for prevention, treatment, and a cure.
Saturday, October 10
Starting at 6 pm
Seattle Central Community College South Plaza, Broadway & E Pine
Generation Q Mega Mixer
Come mingle and mix with seasoned leaders and activists of the GLBTQ community at the Generation Q Mega Mixer. Young leaders (25 and under please) will have the opportunity to socialize, learn from, and quite possibly have a dance off with some of the community's most inspiring members in a relaxed social environment.
Sunday, October 11
6:30 pm
Sole Repair Shop, 1001 E Pike
Seattle LGBT Equality Weekend March & Rally
http://nationalmarch.seattleoutprotest.o…
Get involved with one of our planning committees! Contact for more time and details:
March/Rally Committee, March@seattleoutprotest.org
Workshops Committee, Workshops@seattleoutprotest.org
Outreach Committee, Outreach@seattleoutprotest.org
Mixer Committee, Mixer@seattleoutprotest.org
HIV/AIDS Vigil Committee, Vigil@seattleoutprotest.org
Biweekly General Organizing Meetings, please contact whitney@seattleoutprotest.org for time and location.
National Equality March: Equality Across America
www.equalityacrossamerica.org
Approve Referendum 71
Keep the Domestic Partnership Law
8
Having conversations are a very important part of the democratic process -- but we do not have to wait until this case is resolved. Talk to everyone you know now (and even people you don't know.) Tell them to approve referendum 71 to protect all Washington families and to keep the domestic partnership law.
10
ha! this post came up on a google search for ref 71 - the title, according to google?
"Homo court fast-tracks R-71 case"
Imagine my surprise when it was attributed to the stranger!
something about the:
Homo
Court Fast-Tracks R-71 Case
confused it. Oddly, the only way to post this correctly is with my unregistered name.
"Homo court fast-tracks R-71 case"
Imagine my surprise when it was attributed to the stranger!
something about the:
Homo
Court Fast-Tracks R-71 Case
confused it. Oddly, the only way to post this correctly is with my unregistered name.
11
oops, never mind; I guess Slog just ignores html from unregistereds, rather than treating it as text. well, in any case, somehow the 'homo' tag on the headline confused google.
12
I think I have a crush on Will in Seattle, AND the Fremont Bridge, despite being illegally married to an undocumented male spouse.
14
There's no such a thing as "civilly" confronting by groups like WhoSigned. As Will in Seattle demonstrates (with every other poster cheering him on), the attack dogs will be unleashed on the signers if people like him are provided with such information. Not that i think that the 9 circuit will take it into account since it seems more and more now (due to this urgency on their part) that they will follow the line of their usual pro gay rulings, but, if they have any doubt about what will be done to the signers they just need to look no further than this blog for their answer.
15
The Attorney General & the Secretary of State should suspend the campaign for R-71 pending the outcome of the court case.
17
@13 - no worries....it's more of a political crush, esp. after your Fremont Bridge comment, since I'm quite "married" in my own heart and mind to a wonderful guy despite our government's bigotry and ignorance when it comes to word usage and rights.
It would be great if these names could be carved into stone somewhere, so decades into the future it would serve as a relic of a time when people were (criminally) allowed to vote away other people's rights. The STONE OF SHAME.
It would be great if these names could be carved into stone somewhere, so decades into the future it would serve as a relic of a time when people were (criminally) allowed to vote away other people's rights. The STONE OF SHAME.
18
@16 This was brought up under federal jurisdiction, not the state. The 9th circuit (federal ) court of appeals covers the western United States, and is located in CA.
The petitioners wisely brought the charge under federal charges because the 9th circuit has already ruled in similar cases that public disclosure is required and that the signers of petitions have no expectation of privacy when they SIGN THEIR NAME and write down THEIR ADDRESS. This lawsuit is a stupid waste of time and money.
The petitioners wisely brought the charge under federal charges because the 9th circuit has already ruled in similar cases that public disclosure is required and that the signers of petitions have no expectation of privacy when they SIGN THEIR NAME and write down THEIR ADDRESS. This lawsuit is a stupid waste of time and money.
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