Gays in Oregon Play Hardball - Release Names

[mondo joe]

http://www.statesmanjournal.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20070822/NEWS/708220396/1001

A new gay-rights group called Know Thy Neighbor announced plans Tuesday to publicize the name of everyone who signs referendum petitions to overturn two gay-rights bills passed by the Legislature this year.

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I love it when we play hard.

[Bill McBlueState]

1. pretty cool

"Know Thy Neighbr" did the same thing in Massachusetts, and look where it got us.

http://knowthyneighbor.org/index.html

[DavidDvorkin]

2. I'm uneasy about this

Should we therefore have the right to publicize the names of voters who voted for a given candidate?

Yes, it's outrageous that anyone would vote for, or sign a ballot in favor of, removing civil liberties from members of a group, but the secrecy of your vote is a fundamental concept in democracies. I think this undermines it.

[mondo joe]

4. But these aren't secret votes - they are not, by any means, secret.

[DavidDvorkin]

7. I understand that

You sign your name on a petition to get an issue on the ballot. I still see this publishing of the names as a form of intimidation which tries to keep people from voting their conscience. The principle is the same.

[mondo joe]

9. Or: they can vote their conscience and have to stand by it.

I understand where you're coming from, but in the end I think if it's a public document it's public, and that's just it.

[BR_Parkway]

22. Actually, when the group did it in MA, they found people comnig forward

to say that their name was on the petition but they hadn't signed it, disclosed some fraud on the part of the "family values" people. Who Would Jesus Forge?

[Tesha]

27. It's only a problem if they're trying to "sneak" your rights away.

If it's their position and they're proud of it,
they should have no problem with their position
being publicized.

KnowThyNeighbor was a *GREAT* idea!

Tesha

[TommyO]

6. Petitions are not secret votes, they are a very public affirmation for or against a measure

I found out that two of my cousins signed a petition in Florida that would deny same-sex couples the right to marry.

[Ratty]

13. Me too

Something about it's just not right. I'm all for outing hypocritical politicians, and I understand it's public information and all but there's something about this that tastes bad. Can someone put into words the unease I feel about this please?

[IndianaJones]

3. what will this accomplish? shame? nt.

[Bill McBlueState]

14. exactly.

I think the people behind the movement would tell you that's the point. Opposing marriage equality is not something to be proud of. And if you sign a public document to that effect, the public deserves to know.

[CT_Progressive]

16. Not shame. Accountability. nt

[marmar]

5. Public information.....thems are the breaks.....

If my basic human rights were being threatened, I'd play hardball too. Looks like bigotry is about to be "outed."

[xultar]

8. DING! DING! DING!

[soothsayer]

10. i'm sure there's a way to claim executive privilege

[bicentennial_baby]

11. They're not new....Did the same thing in MA

:D

[The Vinyl Ripper]

12. Good for them..

[Xithras]

15. Not everyone who signs a petitions supports it.

That's the main reason I'm uneasy with this. Just a few months ago I signed a petition to put a growth measure that I OPPOSE on the ballot. Why? Because even though I oppose the particular measure, I believe in democracy and the right to vote on issues of importance. I wanted it on the ballot so I could vote against it and send a message to developers that their brand of growth wasn't wanted here.

[ComerPerro]

19. depends on the wording of the petition

[FreeState]

21. Bigots all of them

Anyone who thinks my rights as an American are up for a vote is a bigot. Even signing a petition so people can vote on equal rights is bigoted.

[mondo joe]

25. And I don't believe civil rights should be left to a vote.

We disagree.

[David Zephyr]

17. Very, very smart move!

I like it.

[Sapere aude]

18. So why is that a threat against those who sign it. I would think they would

wear it as a badge of honor since they think they are the moral ones.

[ComerPerro]

20. no kidding. They should be proud to have their names revealed

[Cha]

23. Really..unless they're two-

faced, sneaky little bigots who would rather not have everyone know that.

[Yavin4]

24. BRAVO! A Great, Smart Tactic

Petitions are public documents, and bigotry needs to be exposed.

[Withywindle]

26. Great idea!

I don't understand why people have a problem with this. Every petition I've ever signed, it was with the knowledge that, duh, people would see that I signed it. That's kind of the point, isn't it?

edit to add: And if bigots feel their bigotry is something that needs to be hidden, and they're ashamed when it's exposed, well, that's a step in the right direction, isn't it? They SHOULD be ashamed. The ones who are ashamed, well, there's hope for them. First step is admitting you have a problem, after all.