Court allows release of domestic partner petitions
(Seattle) Washington’s secretary of state can release the names and addresses of people who signed petitions calling for a public vote on the state’s expanded benefits for domestic partners, a federal appeals court said Thursday.
A panel of the 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals reversed a previous decision by U.S. …
Tags: Circuit Court Of Appeals, Court Of Appeals, Domestic Partner, Domestic Partners, Federal Appeals Court, Names Addresses, Names And Addresses, People, Petitions, Public Vote, Seattle Washington, Secretary Of State, State Names, Washington StateGay rights supporters won’t appeal vote on gay benefits
(Olympia, Wash) Supporters of the state’s most recent expansion of domestic partnership rights announced Wednesday they won’t appeal to the Washington Supreme Court to try and block a public vote on the new law.
Washington Families Standing Together chairwoman Anne Levinson said the group will now focus on a campaign to …
Tags: Domestic Partnership, Focus, gay rights, Levinson, Olympia, Partnership Rights, Public Vote, Rights Supporters, Washington Families, Washington Supreme CourtWash. gay partnership foes turn in signatures
(Olympia, Wash) Sponsors of a campaign to overturn Washington state’s domestic partnership law turned in their petition signatures Saturday and said they believe they have enough to force a public vote.
The expanded “everything but marriage” domestic partnership law was scheduled to take effect Sunday, but is now delayed until the …
Tags: Domestic Partnership, Foes, Gay Partnership, marriage, Marriage Law, Marriage Partnership, Olympia, Partnership Law, Petition Signatures, Public Vote, Washington StateWash. gay partnership foes say “too close to call”
OLYMPIA, Wash. —
Washington state’s latest expansion of domestic partnerships for gay couples was hanging in limbo Friday as opponents announced a final push to force a public vote, calling their effort so far “too close to call.”
In a statement to supporters, organizers of the Referendum 71 campaign said they believe they will have at least the minimum 120,577 petition signatures needed by Saturday to qualify for the ballot.
However, R-71 organizer Gary Randall said the campaign doesn’t have enough extra signatures to act as a cushion for erroneous or duplicate petition signatures, which must come from registered Washington voters.
To help meet the deadline, Randall appealed to R-71 supporters to gather additional signatures and drive them to the state Capitol on Saturday afternoon.
“We’re not trying to have a rally or anything,” Randall said later by telephone. “We need the signatures, we truly do.”
The new “everything but marriage” expansion of domestic partnerships is scheduled to take effect Sunday, but the law will be delayed if referendum sponsors turn in their petitions.
See Wash. gay partnership foes say “too close to call”
Seattle Times
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Group to out signers of anti-gay petitions
A group called WhoSigned.org says it will publicize the names of people signing petitions for Referendum 71, which seeks a public vote to overturn a new expansion of Washington’s same-sex partnerships.
WhoSigned.org says it’s partnering with the gay rights group KnowThyNeighbor.org to put the names online.
In a statement Monday, WhoSigned.org says …
Tags: Anti Gay, Gay Group, Gay Rights Group, Group Names, Names Of People, Petitions, Public Vote, Referendum, Sex PartnershipsGroups to ‘out’ those who sign petition against same-sex unions
A group called WhoSigned.org says it will publicize the names of people signing petitions for Referendum 71, which seeks a public vote to overturn a new expansion of Washington’s same-sex partnerships.
WhoSigned.org says it’s partnering with the gay rights group KnowThyNeighbor.org to put the names online.
See Groups to ‘out’ those who sign petition against same-sex unions Seattle Times
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Where? Adair County supervisors demand Iowa gay marriage ban! Where?
The Adair County Board of Supervisors has passed a resolution demanding that the Iowa Legislature take action to either end same-sex marriage in Iowa, or let the public vote on the matter.
Chairman Clifford Sheriff read the resolution before the board’s vote this morning.
“Now, therefore, be it resolved that the Adair County Board of Supervisors demand that the Iowa (Legislature) resolve this issue by either passing legislation that will lead to a public vote to amend the Iowa Constitution or by passing legislation to confirm Iowa Code Section 595.2 to the Iowa Supreme Court (decision) in Varnum and Brien,” Chairman Sheriff read aloud.
The section of law Sheriff referenced is the 1998 “Defense of Marriage Act” which most legal scholars argue has been voided by the Iowa Supreme Court’s decision. The five-member Adair County Board of Supervisors passed their resolution, without debate.
“I’ll move we approve the resolution for review of the Defense of Marriage Act,” one of the supervisors said.
Another quickly added his “second” to move the process forward.
“We have a first and a second to approve the resolution,” Chairman Sheriff announced. “All in favor signify by saying, ‘Aye,’” Sheriff advised and all five replied in the affirmative.
The supervisors then continued with their board meeting.
A few Iowa city councils and county boards of supervisors have pondered similar resolutions against gay marriage. In February — two months before the Iowa Supreme Court ruling legalized gay marriage — the Sioux City City Council passed a resolution urging state legislators to set the date for a statewide vote on a constitutional amendment which would ban gay marriage.
See
Adair County supervisors demand statewide vote on gay marriage
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“People’s veto effort” likely if gay-marriage becomes law in Maine
UGUSTA — Michael Heath of the Maine Family Policy Council announced this week he will work to gather the signatures necessary for a people’s veto of the gay-marriage bill.
A few things need to happen first, but during Senate debate Thursday, many senators said they felt it was inevitable that the question would end up before voters.
The Senate voted Thursday 22-14 in favor of the bill. It will be taken up in the House Tuesday, then come back to the Senate for a final vote.
From there, it goes to Gov. John Baldacci, who has not taken a position on the bill.
Assuming he doesn’t veto it, it would be set to take effect 90 days after the Legislature adjourns. Adjournment is set for June 17, give or take a day or two.
This is where the people’s veto comes in.
Heath and others would have 90 days from the date of adjournment to gather 55,087 signatures.
Julie Flynn, deputy secretary of state, said any group wanting to turn in signatures for a people’s veto would have until Sept. 15 to submit signatures. Her office would then have 30 days to determine whether there are enough valid signatures to call for a public vote.
However, in order to make the November ballot, groups would have to turn in signatures by Sept. 3 or 4, because it must be at least 60 days before the election, she said.
If not, the question wouldn’t go to voters until June.
See
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Civil unions reawaken gay marriage divisions in Hawaii
The decade-old battle lines over same-sex marriage in Hawaii are being redrawn as lawmakers consider civil unions.
Opponents of civil union measures say it’s just same-sex marriage in a different package. Supporters say public opinion has shifted since Hawaii became the first state to ban gay marriage in its constitution.
An overflow crowd came to testify on one of several measures that would give same-sex partners rights through civil unions much like those in legal marriage.
“My wife got sick not long ago, she was in the hospital, no one questioned my right to be there by her side,” said Eric Gill, representing the Local 5 union.
Opponents stood sharply against any other rights beyond the reciprocal beneficiaries status conferred as a compromise after Hawaii’s gay marriage ban.
“You will be circumventing the will of the 70 percent of the people who voted your constituents who set you a strong and clear message by their vote to preserve traditional marriage,” said opponent Honolulu City Councilmember Gary Okino.
“The public opinion on this issue has changed dramatically,” said proponent Alan Spector of the Family Equality Coalition. “Today in 2009 this is not the controversial issue that is was in the 1990s.”
“If we feel that the tide has changed and that the people of Hawaii are now saying that we want same-sex marriage, then let’s put it to a (public) vote,” said Lt. Gov. Duke Aiona, an opponent of civil unions.
See Civil unions reawaken gay marriage divisions
KHON2 - Honolulu,HI,USA
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