Seattle P-I: Eyman stumbles with gay-rights challenge
June 6, 2006
Initiative activist Tim Eyman and other foes of Washington state's new gay civil-rights law failed to submit enough voter signatures Tuesday to force a public vote this fall.
Eyman, appearing at the state elections division just minutes before closing time Tuesday, said he and his allies had collected 105,103 signatures. That's fewer than the 112,440 required minimum and considerably less than the 130,000 that is suggested in order to cover duplicate or invalid signatures.
The announcement marked one of the few times that Eyman has failed to qualify a measure for the ballot -- of particular note on this occasion, when the subject had much apparent appeal to social and religious conservatives.
Eyman, appearing at the state elections division just minutes before closing time Tuesday, said he and his allies had collected 105,103 signatures. That's fewer than the 112,440 required minimum and considerably less than the 130,000 that is suggested in order to cover duplicate or invalid signatures.
The announcement marked one of the few times that Eyman has failed to qualify a measure for the ballot -- of particular note on this occasion, when the subject had much apparent appeal to social and religious conservatives.
Longview Daily News: Eyman dupes press, doesn't turn in signatures as expected
June 5, 2006
There are no signatures here, Luke.
Tim Eyman, in a stunt that was not wholly unexpected, arrived at the state elections division building Monday dressed as Darth Vader and wielding a plastic light saber. Missing were the petitions full of signatures in support of an effort to overturn the state's new gay civil-rights law.
Eyman, who has previously dressed up as a gorilla and a prison inmate to tout his various initiative efforts, had been expected to turn in the petitions, but his appearance turned out to be nothing more than a ploy for his publicity machine.
Tim Eyman, in a stunt that was not wholly unexpected, arrived at the state elections division building Monday dressed as Darth Vader and wielding a plastic light saber. Missing were the petitions full of signatures in support of an effort to overturn the state's new gay civil-rights law.
Eyman, who has previously dressed up as a gorilla and a prison inmate to tout his various initiative efforts, had been expected to turn in the petitions, but his appearance turned out to be nothing more than a ploy for his publicity machine.
Seattle P-I: Churches speak up in debate over new gay-rights law
June 3, 2006
Churches have to walk a fine line when it comes to political advocacy, or risk losing their tax-exempt status. Under Internal Revenue Service guidelines, churches cannot endorse individual candidates, and their pastors cannot use the pulpit or church newsletters to do so. But they are not prevented from speaking out on issues.
And churches around Washington are speaking up. Conservative churches that oppose the gay civil rights bill have been pushing "Referendum Sunday," encouraging parishioners to sign petitions that would force a statewide vote in November ballot on the gay-rights law the Legislature passed earlier this year. Churches that support the law have organized statewide prayer gatherings and have signed anti-discrimination statements.
"The marriage of religion and politics is as American as apple pie," said The Rev. Randall Lord-Wilkinson, at St. Paul's Episcopal Church in Bremerton, which supports the new law. "The Christian right has been more vocal and highly visible. The religious left is getting better organized. While our perspective is in the minority, it doesn't mean we're wrong. And it doesn't mean they're wrong on everything. We just disagree on this issue."
And churches around Washington are speaking up. Conservative churches that oppose the gay civil rights bill have been pushing "Referendum Sunday," encouraging parishioners to sign petitions that would force a statewide vote in November ballot on the gay-rights law the Legislature passed earlier this year. Churches that support the law have organized statewide prayer gatherings and have signed anti-discrimination statements.
"The marriage of religion and politics is as American as apple pie," said The Rev. Randall Lord-Wilkinson, at St. Paul's Episcopal Church in Bremerton, which supports the new law. "The Christian right has been more vocal and highly visible. The religious left is getting better organized. While our perspective is in the minority, it doesn't mean we're wrong. And it doesn't mean they're wrong on everything. We just disagree on this issue."
Seattle P-I: Eyman to file signatures to repeal gay rights law
June 1, 2006
Maybe he can't find his handcuffs.
Or maybe his gorilla suit got lost at the cleaners.
Or he might just be in search of the perfect tutu to wear when he dances into the Secretary of State's office next week to file the signatures for his latest ballot measure, Referendum 65.
Whatever the reason, Tim Eyman was mum Thursday about whether he has enough signatures to get the measure to repeal the state's new gay civil-rights law on the ballot.
"We haven't put out any announcement and when we have we'll definitely let you know," said Eyman, who in recent years has found increasingly attention-grabbing ways of presenting his initiative signatures for review.
Or maybe his gorilla suit got lost at the cleaners.
Or he might just be in search of the perfect tutu to wear when he dances into the Secretary of State's office next week to file the signatures for his latest ballot measure, Referendum 65.
Whatever the reason, Tim Eyman was mum Thursday about whether he has enough signatures to get the measure to repeal the state's new gay civil-rights law on the ballot.
"We haven't put out any announcement and when we have we'll definitely let you know," said Eyman, who in recent years has found increasingly attention-grabbing ways of presenting his initiative signatures for review.
