"KnowThyNeighbor.org was created in the fall of 2005 in response to an initiative petition to ban same-sex marriage in Massachusetts. It was the brainchild of Tom Lang, a gay married man, and Aaron Toleos, a straight married man....If you see a friend, family member, or neighbor on the list of petition signers, make sure they are not a victim of fraud and let them know why marriage equality is important to you."posted by ericb at 9:45 AM on January 12, 2009
"When the 'Yes on 8' sign Bob and Michele Sundstrom had placed in their front yard was stolen, the couple replaced it with a banner over their garage only to find some very public criticism of their position park in front of their house.posted by ericb at 10:06 AM on January 12, 2009 [4 favorites]
On Sunday, two people parked an SUV on the street outside the couple’s home, painted it with the slogan 'bigots live here,' locked the vehicle and left.
...Because the SUV outside the Sundstrom residence is legally parked, police said they cannot ticket or tow until the vehicle has been in the same spot for at least three days."
"California's social conservatives will do anything in their power to overturn the state's gay marriage - even blackmail.posted by ericb at 2:32 PM on January 12, 2009 [6 favorites]
The Yes on Proposition 8 movement admitted this week that they've sent letters to about thirty businesses who have donated to the 'No on 8' campaign, the campaign hoping to maintain marriage equality in the Golden State. In the letters, the Yes on 8 folks demand an equal donation or say they'll spread word that the recipients 'oppose traditional marriage.''A threatening letter has sparked a new controversy here in San Diego surrounding the gay marriage debate. Donors who gave money to the No on Prop 8 campaign say they received blackmail letters demanding money, and the Yes on 8 campaign now says the letters were sent by their employees.
The letter from Yes on 8 came by certified mail, demanding at least $10,000. Jim Abbot knows exactly why he's being targeted - his business gave $10,000 to a group called Equality California, which supports No on Prop 9.
Jim says nearly 25 percent of his staff is gay.
"We wanted to support their freedom to marry," he said.
The letter says if Jim doesn't give an equal donation to Yes on 8, the name of his company will be published. It reads in part, "It is only fair for Proposition 8 supporters to know which companies and organizations oppose traditional marriage.
"I feel like it's blackmail, and as you can imagine, real estate business has been tough lately and to have someone come at you like this… it's very distressing," he said.'"
"Neither the state of Colorado, through any of its branches or departments, nor any of its agencies, political subdivisions, municipalities or school districts, shall enact, adopt or enforce any statute, regulation, ordinance or policy whereby homosexual, lesbian or bisexual orientation, conduct, practices or relationships shall constitute or otherwise be the basis of, or entitle any person or class of persons to have or claim any minority status, quota preferences, protected status or claim of discrimination. This Section of the Constitution shall be in all respects self-executing."Gays and straights from all over the country boycotted the state.
"In the seven months since Amendment 2's passage, the Colorado Boycott has garnered national attention and support. As of June 1993, more than 60 companies have canceled conventions or meetings in Colorado, and more than 110 groups have called for a boycott of Colorado to protest Amendment 2. Some 20 U.S. municipalities have severed ties with Colorado because of the anti-gay initiative. New York City has divested its stock holdings in any Colorado companies, and canceled a contract for new municipal buses. Ziff-Davis Publishing had planned to relocate their operations to Colorado; in the wake of Amendment 2, they reconsidered, costing the state $1 billion dollars in revenue over a five-year period had they chosen to operate in the state. Good snow and papal visits notwithstanding, the Colorado Boycott is resulting in long-term fiscal consequences for the state that voted against civil rights....more than 62 businesses report conventions or business cancelled in Colorado, and more than 100 New York City restaurants will not serve products from the state."'Boycott Colorado' set-up toll-free numbers and received official endorsements and donations from all over the country (impressive and extensive list here).
…the amendment imposes a special disability upon those persons alone. Homosexuals are forbidden the safeguards that others enjoy or may seek without constraint…Boycotts put focus on issues and bring about changes in minds and in attitudes* and get the ball rolling towards civil rights for all.
…Its sheer breadth is so discontinuous with the reasons offered for it that the amendment seems inexplicable by anything but animus toward the class that it affects; it lacks a rational relationship to legitimate state interests.
The Romer v. Evans decision was instrumental in Lawrence v. Texas. This decision struck down the sodomy laws in Texas and other states. It struck down Bowers v. Hardwick. If you were in Texas in 2003, and applauded Lawrence v. Texas, you should thank some people in Colorado."*
"....We ask that you do all you can to support the proposed constitutional amendment by donating of your means and time to assure that marriage in California is legally defined as being between a man and a woman. Our best efforts are required to preserve the sacred institution of marriage."posted by ericb at 3:14 PM on January 12, 2009
"More than 50 labor unions totaling over two million members, including the Service Employees International Union State Council, the California Federation of Teachers, the California Nurses Association, the California Faculty Association, UNITE HERE! and the Screen Actors Guild, filed an amicus brief Tuesday with the California Supreme Court in support of overturning Proposition 8."posted by ericb at 12:31 PM on January 14, 2009
[Proposition 8] supporters have filed suit in Federal District Court in Sacramento seeking a preliminary injunction of a state election law that requires donors of $100 or more to disclose their names, addresses, occupations and other personal information. In particular, the suit seeks to stop the final filing for the 2008 election, which is due Jan. 31. That filing includes donations made in the closing days of the campaign, when the proposition surged to victory.posted by grouse at 8:43 PM on January 18, 2009
But U.S. District Judge Morrison England, after a one-hour hearing in Sacramento, said California's $100 reporting requirement - adopted by the voters in 1974 - is a valid means of informing the public about the financing of ballot measure campaigns.posted by rtha at 5:00 PM on January 29, 2009 [1 favorite]
"If there ever needs to be sunshine on a particular issue, it's a ballot measure," England said, observing that initiatives are often sponsored by committees with misleading names.
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