Slashdot Mirror


Legal War For WA State Sunshine Law

joeszilagyi writes "In a major battle in Washington State, anti-gay rights groups created and got R-71 on the 2009 election ballot. This is a public initiative to put same-sex civil unions up for public vote. The real legal war then erupted: activists created WhoSigned.org to take advantage of WA state's Public Records Act, and put the names of all people who publicly endorsed R-71 on a public, SEO-optimized website. Lawsuits quickly followed, and today it reached the United States Supreme Court, in a matter of months. The records appear to have always been public, but have only been available in digital form since 2006. An assault on civil rights, an assault on marriage, or an assault on sunshine laws and freedom of information?"

8 of 1,364 comments (clear)

  1. This is insanity by i_ate_god · · Score: 1, Funny

    Canada legalized gay marriage and now the TSX is 1500 points bigger than the DOW Jones.

    The anti gay movement's logic is just about as valid as what I just said in favour of gay marriage.

    --
    I'm god, but it's a bit of a drag really...
  2. International Audience by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 3, Funny

    I'm probably the only one who read the title as beeing about Western Australia's debat about daylight savings.

  3. Re:Turn the tables by PackMan97 · · Score: 2, Funny

    "Let's take away your ability to marry" Please do...prevent me from making yet another stupid mistake next time I visit Vegas!

  4. WTF? by SirGarlon · · Score: 3, Funny

    In September, U.S. District Judge Benjamin Settle temporarily barred state officials from releasing the identities of those who signed the referendum petitions. Settle held that releasing the names could chill the First Amendment rights of petition signers.

    So what Judge Settle is saying here is that First Amendment rights mean that not only can you say whatever the hell you want, but no one is allowed to dislike you for saying it.

    Linux sucks. Software patents are vital to innovation. Comcast provides great service. Long live the RIAA! SCO was right! Don't chill my First Amendment rights!

    --
    [Sir Garlon] is the marvellest knight that is now living, for he destroyeth many good knights, for he goeth invisible.
  5. Re:Political correctness assaulting opposers by Maxmin · · Score: 4, Funny

    Hey, have you ever worked on Sunday? Why hasn't your church stoned you?

    Working on Sunday is explicitly forbidden by the Bible, and the penalty is that your community must stone you to death.

    --
    O lord, bless this thy holy hand grenade, that with it thou mayest blow thine enemies to tiny bits, in thy mercy.
  6. Re:Turn the tables by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1, Funny

    oh, yeah, Rochester, that great metropolis of the north :-)

  7. Re:The Law of Unintended Consequences by Late+Adopter · · Score: 4, Funny

    Hand me that petition; I'll sign it. I don't care if you marry another man, woman, or a whole bunch of women (harem), and I don't care if you find my name on it.

    You may want to read the petition first, then, because it's supporting a referendum to REPEAL civil unions in Washington.

  8. Re:The Law of Unintended Consequences by Chyeld · · Score: 5, Funny

    Yes, because historically we've had mobs of gay rights activists who have rioted, killed, and otherwise physically assaulted and intimidated straight folk. That's what "gay rage" means, right? ...

    What? You mean it doesn't?