Eyman Files Initiative, Washington Yawns

Eyman.jpgTim Eyman, no doubt making a healthy living these days on the backs of Eastern Washingtonians, filed an initiative to undo the civll rights bill the state legislature finally got around to approving last week. He's been branching out recently from his usual fare of initiatives against economic and transportation infrastructure progess in the state to include attacks on social progress as well. If we actually believed that Tim was anything more than a figurehead filer these days we'd wonder what would cause someone to petition the state goverment to repeal a law against discrimination.

How long until the people pulling Tim's strings realize he's poison at the polls and the surest way of spiking an initiative is to get Eyman's name on it? Wait, is Eyman actually being employed by the gays themselves? Crafty...

From the Seattle Times:

"I'm surprised someone would file an initiative to say let's discriminate against our fellow citizens," Gregoire said. "It strikes me as counter to the values of the state of Washington to have an initiative now that would say to the people of the state of Washington it's ok to discriminate... against gays and lesbians."

Referendums, intended to give voters a say on laws passed by the Legislature, need 112,440 valid signatures to get on the ballot. The signatures have to be turned in within 90 days after the session ends. March 9 is the final day of this year's regular session.

Initiatives, on the other hand, are generally used to get new laws on the ballot but can be used to change existing law. Eyman would need 224,880 valid signatures to get an initiative to the people on the ballot, but has more time to do so. The signatures for an initiative don't have to be turned in until July 7.

Comments (7) [rss]

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Ready to hear the phrase "special rights" all fall? Well, get ready.

God what a dick. Actually this will make it easier to argue against every single future Eyeman scam by just pointing out that he is a homophobic biggot.

Oh yeah and he is a crook.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tim_Eyman#Eyman.27s_salary

Tim Eyman has filed both a Referendum on HB2661 (anti-discrimination bill) and an Initiative to the People. He'll need to collect signatures to get either/both of them on the ballot.

During the Lon Mabon campaigns, Bigot Busters was a hugely successful part of the effort to stop anti-gay/anti-fairness initiatives 608 and 610. The concept is simple:

Each town/area/region creates a committee/action team of Bigot Busters. That action group, publicizes a telephone number to call if you see the petition being circulated. A dispatcher sends trained volunteers to tell potential signers what the actual effects of the petition is, to tell them the truth, thus disuading voters from signing.

It worked very well in Seattle (and before that in Portland) and could work statewide again. We need to organize this effort immediately, before the petitions go out. If anyone knows any Bigot Buster veterans, ask them to come out of retirement and tutor us. There was a Bigot Buster manual that was published.

Bigot Busters. Decline to sign: a guide to defeating anti-gay initiatives
through counter-petitioning. Seattle: Bigot Busters/Decline to Sign, 1995.

Does anyone still have it?

I found this from the NGTLF:
http://www.qrd.org/qrd/www/FTR/bigotbst.html

I'm going to organize this effort in Spokane and I'd be thrilled to help or get help from anyone anywhere in the state.

my email is: jreilly4261@gmail.com

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Please someone tell me how this bill effects anyone who isn't gay? What is their fear? Equal rights should apply to everyone. Is anyone else as tired of Eyman as I am? Get a life buddy!

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God what a dick. Actually this will make it easier to argue against every single future Eyeman scam by just pointing out that he is a homophobic biggot.

Yes I am homophobic and proud of it since the medical facts point to the fact you have a much shorter life span and you spread STD's much more than heterosexuals.
Frankly, you and our liberal governor are out of touch with the majority of Washington residents and frankly you should stop pushing this choice as a norm and keep this lifestyle to yourself.
I see no discrimination against gays and most companies already have restrictions to protect gays. Why should you have special rights? The Gay lifestyle is a moral choice and frankly they do not deserve minority status and we well win whether you like it or not.
I wonder when things like this will eventually lead to civil war in this nation, don't think it wouldn't. I hope it does not but this is turning normally moderate people more conservative, like myself. I hope because of our governors view on this we will have a conservative in office next, one that is pro family.
WE WILL OVERTURN IT!!!

re: [6]
Medical facts do no such thing. You discredit yourself when you rely on fake "science" that is so poor and biased, no reputable science organization will support it. I'd wager that your "research" comes from the discredited junk-scientist Paul Cameron of the Family Reseach Institute. Here's what the professionals have to say about him:

"Paul Cameron (Nebraska) was dropped from membership for a violation of the Preamble to the Ethical Principles of Psychologists"
--American Psychological Association
December 2, 1983

On October 19, 1984, the Nebraska Psychological Association adopted a resolution stating that it "formally disassociates itself from the representations and interpretations of scientific literature offered by Dr. Paul Cameron in his writings and public statements on sexuality."

In 1985, the American Sociological Association (ASA) adopted a resolution which asserted that "Dr. Paul Cameron has consistently misinterpreted and misrepresented sociological research on sexuality, homosexuality, and lesbianism" and noted that "Dr. Paul Cameron has repeatedly campaigned for the abrogation of the civil rights of lesbians and gay men, substantiating his call on the basis of his distorted interpretation of this research."

In 1986, the ASA officially passed the following resolution:

"The American Sociological Association officially and publicly states that Paul Cameron is not a sociologist, and condemns his consistent misrepresentation of sociological research."

And its not just folks in the US who view him as a fraud.

In August, 1996, the Canadian Psychological Association adopted the following policy statement:
"The Canadian Psychological Association takes the position that Dr. Paul Cameron has consistently misinterpreted and misrepresented research on sexuality, homosexuality, and lesbianism and thus, it formally disassociates itself from the representation and interpretations of scientific literature in his writings and public statements on sexuality."


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