Whosigned.org Refutes Intimidation Charges; Will Post Names of Petition Signers as Planned

PRESS RELEASE
For Immediate Release
June 8, 2007

WHOSIGNED.ORG REFUTES INTIMIDATION CHARGES; WILL POST NAMES OF PETITION SIGNERS AS PLANNED

Seattle, WA - Despite criticism that making public information more accessible to the public amounts to intimidation, Whosigned.org and its national partner KnowThyNeighbor.org announced today that they will proceed with plans to post online the names of Washington citizens who sign the anti-gay petition known as Referendum 71.

"These charges of intimidation ring hollow," said Brian Murphy, director of Whosigned.org. "People should be directing their outrage at the movement to eliminate basic rights and protections for LGBT families, not at the gay community for using its democratic rights to protect itself."

Responding to criticism from within the gay rights community, Murphy said, "Some think that by asserting our rights as gay Americans, we make others feel uncomfortable.  Well, I refuse to compromise the security of my family to make those attempting to dehumanize me feel more comfortable. I don't want to be nice. I want to be equal. And I want to be equal now."

While some allege that petition signers will become the targets of organized harassment, Aaron Toleos, co-director of KnowThyNeighbor.org, says, "Such claims are irresponsible, incendiary, and totally untrue. There is no organized plan to confront petition signers. In fact, we have never advocated for this and don't think it's constructive. No one is going to be knocking on random doors. It just doesn't happen."

What does happen, says Toleos, is that conversations are triggered between people that already have a personal connection like friends, relatives, and neighbors. "These conversations can be uncomfortable for both parties," he said, "but they are desperately needed to break down stereotypes and to help both sides realize how much they actually have in common."

KnowThyNeighbor.org has partnered with grassroots organizations to publish petitioner information in states across the country including Oregon, Arkansas, Florida, and Massachusetts. "Citizens approach petitions more thoughtfully once they realize it is a public document," says Toleos, "and we believe this makes the system stronger."

KnowThyNeighbor.org's website has also been pivotal in exposing petition fraud and has led directly to civil and criminal investigations.

While he acknowledges that some find it surprising to learn that petition information is a matter of public record, Toleos says, "Anyone that is honest about wanting a clean, transparent process should welcome the scrutiny that our website makes possible. And if they don't, you should wonder why."

# # #

CONTACTS

Brian Murphy, Director, Whosigned.org
(206) 313-1175 / brian.murphy.wa.usa@gmail.com

Aaron Toleos, Co-Director, KnowThyNeighbor.org
(978) 821-4620 / aaron@KnowThyNeighbor.org

Tom Lang, Co-Director, KnowThyNeighbor.org
(978) 335-0477 / Tom@KnowThyNeighbor.org

Comments

[PDSA]

of course its intimidation, saying NO ITS NOT!!!! doesnt refute anything--look what happens when this is done,--people start mass emailing peoples coworkers etc.

but the more you post the more we will send thank you's to all those whose name you post and give them encouragement

[John Hosty-Grinnell]

I think you might be missing the point of a petition. The petition is meant to be a public declaration of your opinion on the matter at hand. Why would someone who signed one want that to be private? All KTN has done is make sure the names are searchable so people can know who signed it.

The whole point of doing that is to create dialog, which it has in the states we have done this. Not one single instance of unlawful misconduct has been attributed to this website's actions. That should be proof enough for anyone since KTN was founded back in September 2005.

[PDSA]

I do believe a petition is somehting that is signed in order to help some legal action to be moved ahead or made possible. I really doubt that people who signed were told -- "please sign this, the primary purpose of your signing this it is to make public your name and make your address and phone number searchable. No -- it was to help something be up for a vote. You re-define it to suit your purpose and justify your actions. In California LOTS of people whose names were gleened from lists of political contributions to prop 8 were harrassed. HARRASED.Tehre was no constructive conversation going on. The lists were all over craigslists for one, and other places.

It was all about retribution, pay-back adn to let others see what will happen to them when they 'dare' to disagree with gay activists --pure and simple --bother people so much so they will hopefully think twice about it in the future. "Start a dialog"... ha. In a pigs eye. I wonder why when I contacted Brian Murphy and asked him for his address and or phone number so I could show up/call him to discuss my beliefs with him, he didn't answer me. I guess becasue having a stranger at your door or in possesion of your phone number is not something he is insterested in, although making lists available to gay activists so they can show up at peoples homes or have their phone numbers is ok.

The comments from gays/their supporters I saw on craigslist right after prop 8 first passed went like this: YOU BUNCH OF BIGOT, HATER F____ERS!!!!. It was ever so constructive. In fact just try to have an exchange were you state your beliefs (and I don't name call or use put-down slang) on the topic on a neutral websites and the pro-gays call you every name in the book, as well as attack everything you say as a lie if it appears that what you have stated might give them cause to rethink anything.

[ryan charisma]

PDSA, why you so stupid?

A petition is a public document.

There's no further discussion.

Stand behind your hateful ways, or don't.

I don't really care.

But public record is just that.

[The Patriot]

"All KTN has done is make sure the names are searchable so people can know who signed it. "

LIE

Names AND ADDRESSES AND TOWNS AND ZIP CODES - YOU MIGHT AS WELL PUBLISH PHONE NUMBERS

HATERS

[Scott]

"Names AND ADDRESSES AND TOWNS AND ZIP CODES - YOU MIGHT AS WELL PUBLISH PHONE NUMBERS"

Good Idea Patriot! I'd much prefer making phone calls from the privacy of my home. Especially on cold nights. Who wants to go out?

[The Patriot]

SICK

[Franco]

I signed and it and I'll be damed mad if you do not report may name. Let me make this clear. I WANT MY NAME POSTED ON THAT LIST!

[Franco]

Bull queers take by intimidation and force.

[Scott]

"I signed and it and I'll be damed mad if you do not report may name. Let me make this clear. I WANT MY NAME POSTED ON THAT LIST!"

If you are so proud to be a bigot, why don't you post your information here?

[John Hosty-Grinnell]

Franco, you get a lot of gay guys beating you up? What do you find intimidating, is it intelligence? ;)

Sorry sweety, this bear isn't sitting at the back of the bus for ANYONE, got it?!

[The Patriot]

haters - sick intimidators
your hatred does not go unnoticed

[John Hosty-Grinnell]

If you find me standing up for myself intimidating that's your issue, not mine or society's.

Your constant presence on a GLBT blog shows me that you are a closet case self hater who is angry at those who have their dignity.

[Scott]

Thanks John. Patriot is the Chief Hater that logs in here daily and tries his pathetic best to intimidate us, hate us and force us back into the closet. Not a chance! While we have lost a few battles, we certainly have not lost the war. Equality for all families will become law of the land. The momentum is there and not even the Patriot can stop it!

[Rob]

PDSA,

I couldn't have expressed your basic sentiments any better. I can think of no other situation or context where the making public of address, phone #, etc wouldn't intimidate someone. That would be like saying, "Sure you can vote anyway you like, but just remember, I know where you live". And there's simply no other way to prevent fraud than by "outing" people like this? Just makes me think of the tactic of collecting names of people, so that when you ARE in the majority, you can carry out reprisals with that much eaiser

[The Patriot]

Good Hosty - you stand up for yourself, just don't be surprised when someone sits you down for your delusional behavior and gets violent with you. If its violence you want its violence you will get. Hate breeds hate - stop your intimidation and hatred

[ryan charisma]

Sweet, now you're threating Hosty. I'm sure it's the pacifist in you. Christians would never do such horrible things.

douchenozzel.

[John Hosty-Grinnell]

"If its violence you want its violence you will get."

Bring it on you pussy. You don't even have the balls to come out into view so peole can know who you are.

I'm not afraid of you or anyone else that would try to intimidate me because of my sexuality.

I'm through being afraid, I hope everyone else follows my example and tells people like you where they can go.

[John Merigo]

Ryan, if you think that you're on the same "side" as John H-G, and your common intention is to open up a dialog... you've succeeded! Congratulations, and welcome to the dialogue. So now that we're discussing things, why is it that you need to constantly refer to people as "stupid", "douchebag", and "douchenozzle"? While I admit that "douchenozzel" is hysterically funny, your intention is not to be funny- it's the basest form of name-calling. I would think that John H-G would be smart enough to realize that name-calling is the fastest way to lose an argument. It means that you're desperate. That's not meant to be an insult- it's just a statement of fact. Patriot, you're my favorite "douchenozzel" on here : ). Thanks for speaking up.
The sad thing to me is that there are real hate-crime victims out there who now sound less credible because the cry of "WOLF" is being abused by over-active-ists. Look for K.T.N.s stance on the alleged hate-crimes in Provincetown. Also, Patriot, your last comment was removed on that page... must be a server error, huh?

[John Hosty-Grinnell]

John, what's eating you? I gave you the last word on the thread you were posting on and you said you were moving on, I'm surprised to hear from you. I also would like to know why you are so hostile.

If I have my facts straight you are still living on Commercial Street and driving a taxi, would it be OK for me to call you so we can talk?

I've never seen someone from the GLBT community go after me like you have and I would like to fully understand why you feel the need.

I still maintain that the Provincetown police screwed up and tried to cover their asses, but that is a moot point now after all this time, so I really don't understand why you are speaking up so vocally and so late.

As far as Patriot's postings here, he knows well the violations he commits and most of them are left here for you to review, but his post being removed is no indication of your previous suggested censorship or your concern for that matter.

Clearly you are trying to annoy me, my question is why?

[Djohn Merigo]

John, maybe you responded too hastily- you might notice that my last comment was directed at Ryan, and mostly because he called me a "douchebag". Am I not allowed to ask NOT to be called a douchebag? Your scare tactics are proven here- I signed no petition against you, but you feel the need to post the street on which I live, and my profession- isn't that kind of irrelevant if all you want to do is ask me some questions? Lucky for me, no- you don't have your facts straight. I have not gone "after you" at all, other than to explain repeatedly why I disagree with you, and your tactics. Clearly you don't want to hear what I have to say, and it's because I don't agree with you. That's why you're annoyed. Nothing is eating me "sweety", except your threats and disrespect to those who disagree with you. I agree with Scott above- google me all you want- It's fine. I have not called you names, and I believe I wished you health. It's a far cry from what you're doing, no? If I'm so late in speaking up about the Provincetown issue, then why is it eating you so badly? May I not comment on other pages? You might be interested in reading what I wrote on YOUR Kris Mineau comments- you'll find I agreed with you. Thanks John.

[Djohn Merigo]

I've printed this page out, and photographed it.

[The Patriot]

Merigo - Hosty is a f'ing loser and you would do well to stay away from his hate.

Oh Hosty - you and your lawyers would cry rape if I even looked at you the wrong way
You are a pathetic loser who fantasizes too much about your own little delusional quest.

If it weren't so laughable, it would be sad.
Sad because your violent talk and hate speech is exactly why people call you and KTN out for being the intimidaters you are.

Yes - your violence will beget more violence and you will end up beaten and confused. Don't you understand this? You are a HATER

[John Hosty-Grinnell]

John, I notice you are posting your name altered again like you expect your normal moniker is blocked from posting which you previously accused. I must have done an inadequate job helping you dismiss this notion.

Let me explain a little better how blocking comments works. I have two options when I want to block someone; I can use their IP adress which is recorded when anyone posts, or I can use a word block.

The reason I would never choose a word block is because it blocks all posts with that word in it. In your case that means every moniker or comment with the word "John" in it including my own posts would be blocked. The system would not see "John Merigo" as one blockable element, it would see two seperate words which it would block seperately.

Blocking or deleting is rarely done. This action we reserve for those who pretend to be other people that post here, people who post under multiple monikers, and some other rare instances where we find a comment or moniker appropriate.

You might also want to look around and notice that all the other old articles on KTN have had their comments section turned off in order to keep conversation on the most current posts. This is normal operating procedure for KTN that we've done for years, not something new because we don't want to hear from you.

I'm not sure what you think taking a photo of your post is going to accomplish. If you post something we deem inappropriate it will be removed. However, you'd almost have to be trying to get deleted given what we have let Patriot get away with here. I hope this clears some things up for you.

Forgive me for posting your street name but my intention was to confirm you were the same person who I met before in 2007. Now that you point it out I can see how someone might take it the way you did, so I apologize.

I met someone of the same name who was driving a taxi, was rather chatty, and had a firmer handshake than I expected. This is not information you can find on Google, is it?

You obviously came here to refute what has been said by myself and KTN, can we discuss this in a more productive and less adversarial fashion? I'm not twisting your arm to be here, but on the other hand I have a responsibility to monitor and respond to bloggers here, so if I have to entertain you I would prefer to do so more amicably.

I make a point not to fight publically with other politically active GLBT community members since we are scarce and our unity is fractured enough. If you care to discuss what's on your mind you might find I am very receptive to dissenting opinons since I know that they point out flaws in my arguments that I might not see from my perspective. We can disagree with civility and gain from the experience. That doesn't mean I won't make passionate points or say something out of line from time to time, I'm human too! ;)

My interaction with Patriot and a few other people out there is a poor example of my normal demeanor and if you stay around long enough or read enough of the archives you may understand why.

Best Wishes, I hope you continue to return.

[The Patriot]

LOL