Judge shields signatures in (Wash.) gay rights referendum

[Newsjock]

Source: Associated Press

A federal judge on Thursday ordered the state of Washington to keep shielding the identities of people who signed petitions to force a vote on expanded benefits for gay couples.

U.S. District Judge Benjamin Settle in Tacoma granted the preliminary injunction involving petitions for Referendum 71 while a related case moves forward on the constitutionality of the state public records act.

The referendum, sponsored by a group called Protect Marriage Washington, asks voters to approve or reject the "everything but marriage" domestic partnership law that state lawmakers passed earlier this year.

In his ruling, Settle said he was "not persuaded that waiver of one's fundamental right to anonymous political speech is a prerequisite for participation in Washington's referendum process."

Read more: http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/localnews/2009842910_apusdomesticpartnerships2ndldwritethru.html

[Sebastian Doyle]

1. Chimp appointee from Shelton

that fucking figures.

[ruggerson]

2. If people want to put equal civil rights on the ballot

(which is appalling, in and of itself), their names should damn well be public knowledge.

[KT2000]

3. What a bogus ruling

"anonymous political speech?" what the hell is that.
everyone who donates to a politician is recorded and it is public record.
Would love to see what the Supreme Court would do with this - especially after they rule that corporations should nbe allowed to donate as much as they want under free speech protections.