Supreme Court Blocks Ref 71 Signer Names
October 20, 2009 by James Hipps
Supreme Court Justice Anthony Kennedy has temporarily blocked Washington state officials from releasing the names of people who signed a petition that forced a ballot measure on LGBT rights in the state of Washington.
On Monday, Kennedy ruled that the order which blocks the release of names would remain in effect until he considers the case. Kennedy’s ruling temporarily blocks a federal appeals court ruling that was handed down last week ordering the release of the names.
Referendum 71, a November ballot initiative, seeks to have voters in Washington reject the state’s so-called “everything but marriage” law, which would grant registered domestic partners most of the same legal rights as married heterosexuals.
The law was passed earlier this year by the state’s legislature, but the anti-gay Protect Marriage Washington circulated a petition to put the domestic partnership law before the voters.
In September, U.S. District Judge Benjamin Settle temporarily barred state officials from releasing the identities of those who signed the petition in support of the referendum holding that releasing the names could jeopardize the First Amendment rights of petition signers.
However, those who support equality in benefits argue that discloses the names of signers is part of the process, stating that signers should be identified as it’s the public’s constitutional right to know who supports Referendum 71.
The 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals reversed Settle’s decision on Thursday of last week and stated the secretary of state could release the names and addresses of people who signed petitions, however the names were not released because a state court order remained in effect. A Superior Court judge in Olympia, Washington is set to begin hearing arguments today on how to act upon the appeals court decision.
This Nation that we call home, that our Brothers and Sisters shed their blood for is allowing the minority to dictate what will and will not be. The Christian right wing radicals have developed the same mind set as the very same terrorists that we seek to hunt down in Iraq and Afghanistan. The Christian right want to dictate what will and what will not be to the majority and they wish to exterminate those ideas and ways of life that may not be in line with their opinions.
It is time the Majority of us stand up and bring this fight to the Christian right and tell them in no uncertain terms that we will not be silenced and we will not hide ourselves any longer. We must let them know that we are Americans and we serve this country, pay taxes, work, sweat and vote the same as they do. We live, love and die and we want the same rights as every other American, we deserve to be seen and heard and we deserve to Marry and raise a family and retire together as a MARRIED, loving couple and not a “Domestic partner” but a legally Married couple, enjoying the benefits and rights EXACTLY the same as heterosexual married couples.
Let’s not let the Minority control us, those that support Gay rights are the Majority in this country and we need to use are power to snuff out this right wing radicalism.
I couldn’t agree more, but how?
The best way to beat these people at their game is to hit them in the wallet. They actually believe this B.S. that if you are a good Christian that gawd will reward you monetarily. If we put them in the poor house, it will send them a message that their gawd has abandoned them. I expect that any gay person who goes to a demoninational (yes I spelled it correctly) church, not give one dime until their national offices stand up for gay rights. Then, we attack them through getting the IRS to investigate them in EVERY INSTANCE that their leaders ask them to vote a specific way. Taking away their tax exempt status is the only way to beat them.