The Mighty Pen » Uncategorized

Ref 71 signature count “Too Close To Call”

Joe Mirabella — Fri, 24 Jul 2009 18:53:32 +0000

Gary Randall, the anti-equality minister from Oregon who is helping organize the referendum 71 petition drive announced moments ago in an e-mail to his supporters:

R-71 petition signature gathering count is too close to call…

We feel that by tomorrow morning we will have the 120,577 signatures required, however we also know that some will be invalidated for various reasons. We do not have an adequate cushion of signatures.

While it is premature to claim victory, I am certainly pleased that it is so close. Their campaign was boasting a goal of 150,000 signatures which is the cushion recommended by the Secretary of State. Considering the questionable tactics of professional signature gatherers that I have written about during the past couple of days, I would not be surprised if there is a significant number invalidated.

We can not believe everything their campaign says. They have a history of twisting the truth and this announcement could be just one more fib. However I am cautiously optimistic by this signal.

This was the second attempt in the last three years by the religious right to repeal a law protecting gays and lesbians.In 2006, Tim Eyman led an effort with these same groups to collect signatures in an attempt to repeal the state’s anti-discrimination law protecting gays and lesbians from job and housing discrimination. Washington Won’t Discriminate was formed to keep that off the ballot and Eyman and the others failed to collect enough signatures to qualify.

This year while Randall and friends were paying suspicious characters to gather signatures throughout the state to repeal domestic partnerships, a diverse group of over 120 organizations came together as Washington Families Standing Together. Those organizations were faith-based groups, labor unions, seniors, communities of color, children’s organizations, firefighters, teachers, statewide and local groups. Over 40,000 people took the pledge to decline to sign petitions to put referendum 71 on the ballot. While our opponents tried to claim the moral authority, 85 clergy and congregations signed faith statements endorsing the coalition, proving that all Washington families and citizens are valued regardless of their sexual orientation.

Check back for updates as they become available.

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Joe Mirabella — Fri, 05 Jun 2009 21:28:45 +0000

Betty Bowers Explains Traditional Marriage to Everyone Else
[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OFkeKKszXTw]
LMAO funny!

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Thousands rally to oppose marriage equality

Joe Mirabella — Mon, 01 Jun 2009 18:43:06 +0000

Does this make you feel any less gay?

Just a day after the pro-equality Meet in the Middle rally where thousands of pro civil rights Californians rallied in Fresno, California, a counter demonstration was staged. This time activists opposed the equality argument with Biblical passages and right wing religious leaders. Will Prejean, father of Miss California Carrie Prejean attended with the head of the California Republican party Ron Nehrin. It was a bromance made in heaven. “We will stand united and we will win this battle,” Nehring said.

Ron Prentice a leader in the anti-equality movement said, “It’s the will of God to protect marriage. . . . We will be victorious because God goes before us.”

Not in attendance was the First Amendment separating Church and State.

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Police violently break up Moscow gay march

Joe Mirabella — Sat, 16 May 2009 17:34:33 +0000

Police violently arrest civil rights activists

From Current.com:

MOSCOW – Moscow police violently dispersed a gay pride rally Saturday that was banned by city authorities, drawing attention to Russia’s record on gay rights as it prepares to host a major international pop music competition.

About 30 activists gathered near a university in southwestern Moscow to protest discrimination against gays and lesbians in Russia.

The group, which included British gay rights advocate Peter Tatchell, waved flags and chanted slogans, including: “Homophobia is a disgrace of this country!” and “We are demanding equal rights!”

Whenever human rights are under attack anywhere in the world, every human is under attack. The Russian people are clearly no longer free. A government willing to violently arrest a group of citizens who are trying to achieve equality is a government the United States should be cautious of. The United Nations, the EU, and the United States should immediately condemn these assaults on free speech and human rights. You do not have to support equal rights for gay people to be sickened by this display of totalitarianism. You just have to be aware of how vital civil liberties are to a free society and a free world.

I commend the bravery of the human rights activists in Russia. We should demand their safe release from prison immediately and demand the Russian Government allow their citizens to exercise inalienable human rights like free speech.

Please contact the Russian Embassy and express your opposition to these human rights violations. http://www.russianembassy.org/

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Premature celebration on one year anniversary of CA same sex marriage ruling

Joe Mirabella — Fri, 15 May 2009 19:44:56 +0000

Twitter is buzzing with rumors that the California Supreme Court overturned prop 8. Unfortunately, this is not true. We are still waiting for the California Supreme Court to rule on prop 8. Today is the one year anniversary of when the California Supreme Court opinion was issued that granted marriage equality to same-sex couples.

Clearly people want equality. I only hope that we can celebrate the real prop 8 ruling soon.

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