quote on anti-gay-rights campaigns

This is about the recent failed referendum drive to revisit adding sexual orientation to Washington State's ban on discrimination in housing and employment. The article notes that while Tim Eyman was involved, he did not have the money he usually had to hire signature gatherers. Evangelical churches focused on getting the signatures, both by churchgoers signing and churchgoers circulating petitions. Excerpt:

It is one thing to work up some outrage when in the company of fellow believers, and quite another to ask a stranger to sign a petition directed against one segment of society. He or she could turn out to be "one of them" or the mother or brother of a gay person. It takes a certain amount of cynicism to campaign against the rights of others, often unknown to you, making this sort of campaign best suited for those who are paid by the cynical.

When it comes right down to it, what was lacking in the referendum drive was money to overcome the reluctance of believers to test their beliefs in the public square, where they might encounter neighbors who regard their beliefs as bigotry.

There are times when I think that initatives & referendums with paid signature gatherers should have to get more signatures to be on the ballot to make up for the lack of committed volunteers...

No-Knock Searches

This story, I'm sure, is going to get picked up all over the place. I'm sure that keeping a criminal in prison by ruling the evidence was legally obtained was part of why this ruling went the way it did.

Of course, it's not like the cops ever have the wrong house. Or like a bad smell from a neighboring apartment or condo could be caused by anything other than a meth lab, or anyone could mistake hibiscus for marijuana. Or like they have to wait all that long after knocking anyway. I'm certain no one could fill a website with histories of botched paramilitary raids, or if it could appear to anyone that knocking down doors at 4am when no lives are at stake might be a bit over-the-top, or like anyone might assume an intruder was a criminal and try to shoot said intruder...

You know that online gambling law?

The one that state Gambling Commission Director Rick Day said he wouldn't go after individual gamblers for?

Apparently they are going after anyone who talks about gambling on the internet, tho. Including the press. As Seattle Times columnist Danny Westneat puts it,

The state's gone from trying to control gambling, which is legit, to trying to control people speaking about gambling.

It's hard to take coming from a state that bombards us with pitches for the biggest sucker's bet of all. You know, the one they call the lottery. [...] This is the same state that's happy to enable your online wagering if you're playing the ponies.

As elfs notes, this is insane. ( Letter to the editor )

has been sent. Letter to various legislators & Gov waiting on a bit more tact.

Edit: What really pisses me off is that the legislature apparently thinks it's worth wasting tax money on running down online poker game reviews, which on their face should be protected from state interference the 1st Amendment. Presumably they consider it worth wasting tax money on various lawsuits over this as well.

reminder - Alison Bechdel in Seattle tomorrow & Saturday

From her site:

Seattle
Friday June 16

• University Book Store, 7:00PM
  (Jen's note: University District Store)

Saturday June 17

• Third Place Books, drop-by signing, 2:00 PM
  (Jen's note: not listed on the 3rd Place calendar; hence the "drop-by")
  
• Bailey Coy Books, 7:00 PM (This will take place at The Wild Rose Bar, 1021 E. Pike Street, Seattle 206.324.9210 )

According to her blog, Alison's been using a projector to show the art as she reads aloud (picture). I'm not sure she'll do it at Third Place, but I would think she would at U Books & Wild Rose. Sounds like it's going to be good...