Names Posted of Opponents to Mass. Gay Marriage

GayWired.com ^ | 12.29.05 | Ross von Metzke

[presidio9]

(Brockton, MA) — Supporters of gay marriage in Massachusetts have posted all 123,356 names and addresses of those who signed a petition to reverse legalized same-sex marriage throughout the state on a well known gay rights Web site. Employees and volunteers posted the names on Knowthyneighbor.org. The database is searchable by first name, last name, home town, and ZIP code and offers visitors a 'fraud affidavit" to use 'if your name is listed and you believe you were a victim of petition fraud."

Supporters of a constitutional ban on same-sex marriage in Massachusetts shattered a 20-year-old record for the most certified signatures ever gathered in support of a proposed ballot question.

The proposed amendment is intended to overrule a Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court decision that legalized same-sex "marriage" in May 2004. An estimated 6,500 gay and lesbian couples have since married in the state.

If approved by voters, the amendment would require the state to define marriage "only as the union of one man and one woman." This would prohibit gay "marriage" after 2008, but would not affect established homosexual marriages.

"The people have not just spoken, they have shouted to let the people vote on the definition of marriage," Kristian Mineau, president of the Massachusetts Family Institute, which spearheaded the signature drive, told the Boston Globe.

As of press time Tuesday, no formal complaints had been filed against Knowthyneighbor.org.

[mvpel]

In California, it's illegal to use referendum signers' names and addresses for any purpose other than verification of the petition. This kind of action would be a crime in California, are we certain it's not in Massachusetts?

[massgopguy]

That is an excellent question. The site states that they are going to "spark a dialogue" with the signers.

[aligncare]

Regarding the first cases of HIV in America in the 1980's, it's sad how the extreme political correctness of the times resulted in the bypassing of established public health measures which could have prevented the spread of Aids in America.

[ZULU]

How do I get my name on that petition? (I don't live in Massachusetts.)

[ThisLittleLightofMine]

I think it is sort of cruddy that they are allowed to post someone address. What if some nut job came to your home and killed you because you opposed same sex marriage. This isn't right at all. Maybe names but definitely not addresses.

[ThisLittleLightofMine]

I think it is sort of cruddy that they are allowed to post someone address. What if some nut job came to your home and killed you because you opposed same sex marriage. This isn't right at all. Maybe names but definitely not addresses.

[ThisLittleLightofMine]

it's so bad i had to post it twice...lol

[aligncare]

That would be bi-saaayxual.

[jmaroneps37]

Here's what to do. Go to knowthyneighbor.org many times. Eat up their bandwidth money. Stuff it down their throats, so to speak. Send this out to EVERYONE on your address list. It's very simple to do and it can be very painful.

[Dumb_Ox]

Thanks for reminding me to click through and visit.

[gridlock]

Generally , you want to have a secret ballot for obvious reasons. Although this is not making a secret ballot public, it is getting close to that.

It is not close at all. A petition signature is in no way secret. How can giving somebody your name and address, along with a signature, be considered anonymous?

This is hardball politics, but there is nothing wrong with that. I would hope that the good people of Massachusetts would react harshly to this.

[Protagoras]

that is a good question, isn't it?

That's why I asked it.

[mware]

If one of the people who signed that petition is harmed by some nut case, I hope they bankrupt that group who published them.

[DilJective]

I think a list of HIV positives are now in order for public health reasons.

excellent point!! I'd bet that most Americans would like to know! Just like the "sex offender" registries that are there to inform people of creeps next door- HIV positive registries could protect millions of children from potential infection. Isn't it always about the children???? s/

[Chuckster]

The anti gun crowd does the same, posts names and addresses of anyone who gets a concealed carry permit for firearms. It is a form of "outing". It is not done for nice reasons.

I'd say: "Thank you for publishing the fact that I am armed and serious about defending my person and property with deadly force if necessary. I am sure this will make predators think twice about targeting me and my home. I would be happy to return the favor by publishing the names of you and all of your unarmed associates and family members on my web site if you will please provide names, addresses, phone numbers and a basic outline of your schedule for the benefit of the more risk averse criminals in our city."

[Jackson57]

Glad to find out other FR folks signed. I signed it before Mass several weeks ago.

[Jackson57]

Sorry, you have to be a resident (unless of course, you're a Democrat, in which case you can sign it multiple times).

[Andy'smom]

Only Massachusetts residents can sign BUT they have a blog up so have at them...

[Criminal Number 18F]

It's getting sporty as a telephone- and letter campaign has gotten the state legislator to consider unseating the four judges who voted for gay marriage.

Of the four:

1. Margaret Marshall, the CJ, is in the Pinch Sulzberger social circle, the wife of a Globe columnist who is one of the few straights on the predominantly gay Boston Globe ed-page, and she has been promising the gay bar for years that if they brought a case, she would find for gay marriage. During oral arguments [link is to transcript] she did not allow State to present its case, only plaintiffs.

2. Judy Cowin owes her job on the court to Bwawney Fwank, and to get the letter from him she needed, she swore that she would vote for gay marriage. And gave him $100 -- so we know what Barney goes for, if any of you FReepers, er, go that way. Barney=Judy but it looks like Judy's price is higher.

3. John Greaney, a Dukakis appointee (with all that entails), associates with a number of Jesuit priests from the gay-scandal-plagued Boston archdiocese, is 66 years old and has never as far as I could determine married. Do the math.

4. Rod Ireland, an empty suit who's the official "affirmative action token," claims to be active in his church, but nobody there ever heard of him. A race hustler and a phony.

By making this ruling Marshall and her gang of four took the issue away from the legislature and away from the petition process (which pleased the legislature at the time). Now the individual legislators are feeling constituent heat, and even the most lavender-hearted of them is looking at unpalatable options. The only way the leg gets the issue back from the court is recalling the pro-gay judges.

The legislature meanwhile is preparing a payroll tax on small businesses (between 10 and 50 ees) to fund more medical benefits for the state's humongous welfare-leech class. And they scratch their head over corporate HQs relocating out of state (duh) and population contraction (duh) which is going to cost Mass at least one Congressman in the 2010 Census (say good bye to one extreme-left democrat).

We started a new business, and we started it over the border, free of Mass. overregulation and tax burden. My brother's kids will not go to Mass public schools where the gay agitprop starts in kindergarten.

d.o.l.

Criminal Number 18F

[Criminal Number 18F]

How do I get my name on that petition? (I don't live in Massachusetts.)

You could move to Mass. but I don't recommend it. It sucks here.

d.o.l

Criminal Number 18F