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Bopp, Coleson & Bostrom
1 South 6th Street
Terre Haute, IN 47807-3510
PRESS RELEASE
Friday January 15, 2010
Contact: James Bopp, Jr.
Phone: 812/232-2434; Fax: 812/235-3685;
This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it
U.S. Supreme Court Agrees to Hear Washington Case on Release of Petition Signers
Today, the Supreme Court of the United States agreed to hear a case that asks it to decide whether the Washington Secretary of State may release the names, addresses, and other personal information of over 138,000 individuals who signed a referendum petition seeking to protect traditional marriage in Washington.
As seen in Washington, California, and across the country, when an election involves traditional marriage, the availability of personal information on the internet has led to the harassment and intimidation of those who support traditional marriage. Those supporting traditional marriage have been subject to death threats, physical violence, and property damage because of laws requiring the personal information of supporters of traditional marriage to be made available on the internet. Protect Marriage Washington, the group that asked the Court to hear this case, is seeking to prevent the release of the personal information of the individuals who signed the referendum petition to protect traditional marriage in Washington, and uphold the right of Washington citizens to speak freely without fear of harassment or intimidation.
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ARLINGTON, WA - May 5, 2009 - A coalition of faith based and conservative organizations and leaders filed a Referendum on May 4 to overturn Senate Bill 5688, a 110 page measure which includes the phrase "marriage shall apply equally to state registered domestic partnerships" 180 times.
Referendum 71 will keep SB 5688 from going into effect and if the required signatures are gathered, will put the measure in front of Washington State voters in November.
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ARLINGTON, WA - May 2, 2009 - The Washington Values Alliance proudly announced today the addition of Lisa Shinn to their Board of Directors.
"The addition of Lisa Shinn to our board is welcome news as she brings her significant energy and influence to our cause on the eastern side of Washington State. We are thrilled to have Lisa on our team", said Larry Stickney, President of WAVA. "Lisa is well grounded in her faith and political philosophy. She will be an anchor to this organization".
Lisa Shinn was born in Spokane and raised in various parts of the world as a "military brat". Returning home to Spokane, she graduated magna cum laude from Eastern Washington University with a B.A. in business, and has worked in the business field all of her adult life.
Over the years Lisa served in many leadership roles in party politics. Lisa and her late husband Rod served as District Directors for the Ellen Craswell for Governor campaign. After Rod's retirement in 1998, the Shinn's moved to the Colville area and in 2002 opened a Christian worldview bookstore / espresso bar. After several years of illness, Rod passed away and went to be with the Lord in 2007.
An avid reader and lover of history, Lisa has continued the work of the bookstore, and continues to invest in the culture through involvement in civil affairs. "WAVA is providing a good work in our State, and I am honored to be a part of it", said Shinn upon accepting the board position.
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Arlington, WA - January 9, 2009 - The Washington Values Alliance, announced today that Dr. Bruce Craswell will help lead the recently formed (October, 2008) political organization. "
"A veteran of countless campaigns and political battles over the years, Bruce Craswell brings to our organization his steady hand, political savvy, and impeccable character", said Larry Stickney, President of WAVA. "I'm ecstatic to have him on our team as an advisor and our Treasurer."
Well known and respected in the Pacific Northwest as a gifted "behind-the-scenes" political mover and shaker, Dr. Craswell was chief of staff to King County Executive Ron Dunlap in the early 1980s and ran for Congress in 1998. A long-time Kitsap County resident, Craswell was married to the late and much beloved Senator Ellen Craswell, the 1996 Republican candidate for Governor.
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Olympia, WA - February 5, 2009 - In what may have been round one of an upcoming referendum effort, an estimated 300+ Washingtonians from around the state jammed House and Senate public hearings on Thursday to defend traditional marriage. With many newspapers and other traditional media sources choosing to ignore the hearings, numerous organizations linked arms to successfully get the word out to many thousands of households around the state.
"It was heartening to see such a diverse coalition rapidly come together as one to oppose same-sex 'marriage.' I met housewives and homeschoolers, working men and working women, Protestants, Mormons, Catholics. They all came on short notice to voice their opposition to these bills and they conveyed their message with eloquence and reason," said Larry Stickney, President of the Washington Values Alliance.
With testimony running in excess of 10 to 1 in opposition to SB 5688 and HB 1727 (which would add substantially all of the provisions of marital rights to the state's "domestic partnerships" law) liberal committee members often appeared agitated and impatient with the overwhelmingly pro-traditional marriage crowd.
"Genuine marriage has provided the foundation for healthy and harmonious family living for civilized societies for centuries. It does not exist just for the emotional satisfaction, affirmation, or validation of two individuals, but for the greater good of the social order. Marriage should, therefore, remain an institution that is upheld as an unchangeable standard," said Stickney.
"Particularly disturbing to me was House Judiciary Chairman Jamie Pedersen and Senator Ed Murray's refusal to discuss the affect these bills will have on rights of conscience and freedom of religion. In a few short months after legalizing same-sex "marriage" in Canada, activists there successfully passed a bill criminalizing public statements against homosexuality, punishable by up to two years in prison," Stickney continued...
"If same-sex marriage becomes the law in Washington, every public school will be forced to teach that same-sex 'marriage' and homosexuality are perfectly normal. These bills will harm our schools by driving an irreconcilable wedge between the values of many parents and public school curriculums. Parents will be left with no choice but to remove their children. The legislature is courting disaster with these bills and needs to look closely at the consequences of these measures, even if Chairman Pedersen and Senator Murray won't."
The Washington Values Alliance is continuing to urge citizens statewide to contact their legislators via e-mail or by calling the legislative hotline at 1.800.562.6000 to tell them NO on Senate Bill 5688 & House Bill 1727 (Expanding the rights and responsibilities of state registered domestic partners). |
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Arlington, Washington - December 5, 2008 - Larry Stickney, President of the recently formed (October, 2008) Washington Values Alliance, criticized Governor Christine Gregoire today for allowing an out of state atheist group to set up a display under the capitol dome "for the sole purpose of antagonizing Christians and disrespecting the sacred holiday of Christmas."
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