Thursday, July 26, 2012

Anti-Marriage Petition Database Online

It seems absolutely arbitrary and weird to oppose the marriage of same sex couples. There is no harm done in it, marriage only makes people happy and provides security and stability for a lifetime. It does not affect any one except the couple themselves and their families. If a religion forbids same-sex marriage then fine, their members are free to follow the decrees of religious leaders, but their prohibitions should not apply to non-members. It is nobody's business who someone marries -- I simply cannot fathom the thought processes that lead a person to believe that their opinion about whether two people should marry is important enough to be implemented as law.

But there are plenty of people who do feel that way. In our state of Maryland, both houses of the legislature and the governor agreed that gay and lesbian citizens should be allowed to marry the person they love, and of course immediately 110,000 people signed petitions to bring the law up for a vote.

The Washington Blade has put the database of people who signed to block marriage equality online.

It is fascinating to search the names. See if your neighbors signed, look for prominent people, people you know from PTA, from your place of worship -- it is interesting to note, for instance, that none of the leaders of the Citizens for Responsible Whatever signed the petition, at least none whose names I could think of, at least not with their real names.

Click on THIS LINK to see the database. It is a big file and will take a few seconds to load up. It is saved as one long text document, so you can search for anything.

The web site is not designed very well but it mostly works. Don't use the search box at the top, that seems to search the whole domain. If you scroll down a little you will see a search box on the righthand side (after the first search you enter things at the bottom of the screen). Since the document has names and addresses, including city and zip code, you can search on any of those. Put in the name of your street, if it is fairly unique, or put in your zip code. The results of the search will show up at the bottom of the screen. You can click on the result and the document will automatically scroll to the location of the item you clicked on. Sometimes the target is hidden at the top or bottom of the screen and you have to scroll a little bit.

Dig around, I'll bet you find somebody you know in there.

19 Comments:

Anonymous Mitt's friends said...

"Fox News contributor Charles Krauthammer slammed Mitt Romney over his unfortunate remarks about the London Olympics on Thursday night.

Romney recently questioned the city's readiness to host the games in an interview with Brian Williams, angering many Brits. Prime Minister David Cameron hit back at the remark, and London Mayor Boris Johnson also chided the candidate. The gaffe was one of several that Romney made on the first day of his overseas tour.

On Thursday's "Special Report," Krauthammer launched into a rant about Romney's Olympics comment. "It's unbelievable, it's beyond human understanding, it's incomprehensible. I'm out of adjectives," he lamented.

He said the purpose of Romney's trip was merely to express solidarity with America's British allies, and say nice things about his foreign hosts.

"All Romney has to do, say nothing," Krauthammer said. "It’s like a guy in the 100-meter dash. All he has to do is to finish, he doen’t have to win. And instead, he tackles the guy in the lane next to him and ends up disqualified. I don’t get it."

The other panelists suggested that Romney was speaking from his own experience organizing the Salt Lake City Olympics, but agreed that the candidate lost an easy opportunity to cozy up to the Brits.

Later, Krauthammer also questioned the Romneys' choice to enter Ann's horse into the Olympics. "I'm not sure why the horse has to be in the most upper-class hoity-toity Olympic event ever invented. It's unnecessary," he said."

July 27, 2012 10:21 AM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

sounds like Romney slipped up and said something undiplomatic

big deal

btw, I was recently in London and the place looks like a mess

I expected it to be shined to a sparkling glimmer as the whole world watches

I had heard they were cleaning it up

hate to think what it usually looks like

July 27, 2012 1:47 PM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

NEW YORK — New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg said Friday that despite his own support of same-sex marriage, he disagrees with some of his fellow mayors who have said that the fast-food chain Chick-fil-A is not welcome in their cities because of its opposition to gay marriage.

Bloomberg said on his weekly radio show on WOR that it is inappropriate for a government entity "to look at somebody's political views and decide whether or not they can live in the city, or operate a business in the city, or work for somebody in the city."

The billionaire businessman-turned-politician was asked about comments from Boston Mayor Thomas Menino, Chicago Mayor Rahm Emanuel and San Francisco Mayor Edwin Lee criticizing Chick-fil-A.

Chick-fil-A president Dan Cathy angered gay-rights advocates, including the mayors, when he said the company was "guilty as charged" for backing "the biblical definition of a family." He later added, "I think we are inviting God's judgment on our nation when we shake our fist at him and say, `We know better than you as to what constitutes a marriage.'"

Emanuel said "Chick-fil-A values are not Chicago values," and Menino wrote in a letter to Cathy: "There is no place for discrimination on Boston's Freedom Trail and no place for your company alongside it."

Lee tweeted Thursday: "Closest (hash)ChickFilA to San Francisco is 40 miles away & I strongly recommend that they not try to come any closer."

Bloomberg said Menino, Emanuel and Lee are "trampling on your freedom to open a store."

Richard Socarides, a New York lawyer and former Clinton White House adviser on gay rights who is urging a boycott of Chick-fil-A, said Bloomberg is right.

"Consumers can disagree with a company's corporate political position and decide not to spend money there," Socarides said. "But the city cannot regulate speech by denying someone a permit to operate their business just because you disagree with their political beliefs."

July 27, 2012 2:52 PM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

The gay marriage supports are happy that they will get to practice democracy and vote for gay marriage. The traditional marriage supporters are happy that they will get to practice democracy and vote for traditional marriage. Isn't it great we live in a democracy!!!

July 27, 2012 3:30 PM  
Anonymous Who works in mysterious ways said...

Chick-Fil-A's Head Of PR Has Died Of A Heart Attack

July 27, 2012 5:09 PM  
Anonymous Robert said...

Bloomberg is right. Mayor Menino of Boston also backed down on a Chik-fil-A ban.

There are enough people in this country who want to limit my freedom, in radical ways. It behooves me to support their right to live their lives the way they want, and to support the causes they choose to support.

Hello to all from the GLSEN conference in New York.

rrjr

July 27, 2012 9:21 PM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

LGBT watch at the Olympics: Torch bearer kisses his boyfriend as spectators cheer

By Ken Williams
Special to LGBTQ Nation

LONDON – A gay man carrying the Olympic torch today on the streets of London was cheered by spectators when he kissed his boyfriend during his stretch of carrying the device that will light the giant Olympic Flame tonight during the opening ceremony that will be telecast by NBC in the U.S. on a tape-delay basis.

Chris Basiurski, who chairs Gay Football Supporters Network in Great Britain, was one of thousands of Britons who were chosen to carry the Olympic torch over the past 70 days as part of the Olympic Torch relay that leads up to the lighting ceremony.

Basiurski told the spectators that he and his partner, James, would be getting married next year.

Gay Star News also reported that comedy gay icons Eddie and Patsy of the hit TV show “Absolutely Fabulous” and other LGBT figures also were torch bearers.

Basiurski’s network focuses on the LGBT soccer community in Britain, and many of its members will be attending Olympic events such as the soccer tournament.

He told Gay Star News: “I’m honored to have carried the torch through London and it was amazing to see and hear all the support from both my family and GFSN members along the route.”

July 27, 2012 9:28 PM  
Anonymous chik-fil-a rocks said...

In what has become an increasingly political debate in recent days, Nancy Pelosi joined Boston's mayor, Thomas Menino, in voicing her opposition to the chain. Menino vowed to block the chain from opening a store in his city. The mayor of Pelosi's home town, San Francisco, took a similar stance.

On Wednesday, former Republican presidential candidate Rick Santorum took to Twitter to announce his support for the chain, joining former Arkansas Gov. Mike Huckbee (R) in participating Chick-fil-A appreciation day next Wednesday.

"With two of my boys, Enjoying chick-in-strips and an awesome peach shake at Chick-fil-A. See you here next Wednesday!," Santorum tweeted.

Last week, Chick-fil-A President Dan Cathy, a well-known Christian and supporter of anti-gay religious organizations, responded to a question about his opposition to same-sex marriage, saying that he was "guilty as charged."

July 28, 2012 12:57 PM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

10-Year-Old Delivers Marriage Equality Speech To New York City Council

"Fifth-grader Kameron Slade’s speech on marriage equality is surely a winner. Last month, it disqualified him from his school’s speech competition because the principal said that the content was “inappropriate.” But Kameron shared his speech with news station NY1, and hundreds of thousands of people watched it. The following week, the principal offered the “compromise” of allowing Kameron to read his speech just to his classmates.

But Kameron was destined for more. Moved by his words, New York City Council Speaker Christine Quinn (D) invited him to give his speech before the Council. Quinn noted that it was the day after the state celebrated one full year of marriage equality. Councilman Jimmy Van Bramer (D), who is marrying his partner this weekend, described Kameron as “the most courageous and wonderful young man I’ve ever seen.” Here again are Kameron’s simple but powerful words as he presented them to the New York City Council:

KAMERON SLADE: "Some people are for same-gender marriage, while others are against it. Like President Obama, I believe that all people should have the right to marry whoever they want. Marriage is about love, support, and commitment. So who are we to judge? If we judge people like this, this is a form of prejudice. We must learn to accept all differences.[...]

My mom is very open with me about same-gender marriage. However, some adults may feel uncomfortable and think it’s inappropriate to talk about this to children. I think adults must realize that as children get older, they become aware of these mature issues that are going on in the world. If children read or watch the news, they can also learn about things like same-gender marriage, so what’s the point in trying to hide it?

In conclusion, I hope that everyone understands how important it is to respect everyone for who they are. Same-gender marriage is becoming more popular. I believe that same-gender marriage should be accepted worldwide and that parents and teachers should start to discuss these issues without shame to their children."

July 29, 2012 9:18 AM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

Steven Colbert Defends Chick-fil-A Stock Photo Teenage Girls

July 29, 2012 9:30 AM  
Anonymous Robert said...

The GLSEN conference was awesome. It's nice to see so many people of different generations ready to fight the good fight.

rrjr

July 30, 2012 5:28 PM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

"The GLSEN conference was awesome. It's nice to see so many people of different generations ready to fight the good fight."

the problem with the gay agenda

always itching for a fight

nothing to fight about

stop causing trouble

July 30, 2012 5:48 PM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

by definition, the GLSEN conference sucked

when Romney wins in November, these sex clubs will be banned from contact with school children

July 30, 2012 5:51 PM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

hey, I've got an idea

let's find an evangelical Christian owner of a chain of fast food restaurants, who closes on Sunday and forfeits the business on principle, what he thinks of gay marriage and then act outraged when he answers

I'll be having breakfast, lunch and dinner at Chik-fil-A on Wednesday with a few million of my friends

July 30, 2012 11:38 PM  
Anonymous Robert said...

Oh my, such vitriol.

July 31, 2012 6:41 AM  
Anonymous the original chicken sandwich and a peach shake said...

which Chik-fil-A you going to tomorrow, Robo?

July 31, 2012 8:17 AM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

when Romney wins in November maybe he'll support a health care system like they have in Israel.

Romney praises health care in Israel, where research says ‘strong government influence’ has driven down costs

"Republican presidential candidate Mitt Romney had some very kind things to say about the Israeli health care system at a fundraiser there Monday. He praised Israel for spending just 8 percent of its GDP on health care and still remaining a “pretty healthy nation:”

"When our health care costs are completely out of control. Do you realize what health care spending is as a percentage of the GDP in Israel? 8 percent. You spend 8 percent of GDP on health care. And you’re a pretty healthy nation. We spend 18 percent of our GDP on health care. 10 percentage points more. That gap, that 10 percent cost, let me compare that with the size of our military. Our military budget is 4 percent. Our gap with Israel is 10 points of GDP. We have to find ways, not just to provide health care to more people, but to find ways to finally manage our health care costs."

Romney’s point about Israel’s success in controlling health care costs is spot on: Its health care system has seen health care costs grow much slower than other industrialized nations.

How it has gotten there, however, may not be to the Republican candidate’s liking: Israel regulates its health care system aggressively, requiring all residents to carry insurance and capping revenue for various parts of the country’s health care system....."


More Romney world tour news:

Poland's Solidarity Union Rebukes Romney Upon Former Leader's Endorsement

"Presumptive GOP presidential nominee Mitt Romney may have earned an apparent endorsement from former Polish president Lech Walesa on Monday, but no such kind words were coming from Poland's storied Solidarnosc (Solidarity) trade union, which Walesa and others founded in 1980.

Upon Romney's visit to the Gdansk shipyards, the site of historic Polish worker strikes during the Soviet era, Solidarnosc issued a press release saying it is "in no way involved" in the Romney meeting with Walesa and had no "initiative" to invite the American candidate to Poland.

The union expressed dismay at Romney's anti-union stances in the U.S., saying it would stand alongside the AFL-CIO, the American labor federation that has endorsed Obama and remains highly critical of Romney.

"Regretfully, we have learned from our friends in the American trade union central AFL-CIO representing over 12 million workers about Mitt Romney's support for the attacks against trade unions and labor rights," Andrzej Adamczyk, the head of the union's international department, wrote. "In this respect, I wish to express... our solidarity with American workers and trade unions. [Solidarity] will always support the AFL-CIO in their struggle for the right of workers to organize and bargain collectively."..."

July 31, 2012 9:23 AM  
Anonymous Robert said...

The one in San Francisco, of course.

July 31, 2012 12:34 PM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

To: "the originalchicken sandwich and peach shake" Please let us know which saturated-fat Chik you are going to. We need to alert the Health Department that that location is being infested by rats and other vermin.

August 01, 2012 5:04 PM  

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