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Founded in January 2009, PubliCola is a blog about Seattle written by journalists who are dedicated to non-partisan, original daily reporting that prioritizes a balanced approach to news. Started by longtime local editor and award-winning reporter Josh Feit, PubliCola is the first online-only news site in state history to get media credentials to cover the state capitol.

PubliCola was off and running. In June 2009, PubliCola hired another award-winning journalist, super-sourced Seattle city hall reporter Erica C. Barnett.

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The first online-only news site in state history to get media credentials to cover the state capitol and Seattle city hall, PubliCola has been called a “must-read” by the Seattle Post Intelligencer and a hot “New Media Mover and Shaker” by Seattle Magazine—which also cited our own Erica C. Barnett as the city's No. 1 news nerd.

Extra Jolt: Anti-Gay Rights Group Loses Latest Round in R-71 Case

This Washington   November 16, 2011 at 5:12 pm Josh Feit

Protect Marriage Washington, the anti-gay marriage group that collected signatures to overturn Washington State’s domestic partners rights, has lost yet another round in its fight to keep those signatures private.

The 9th Circuit Court of Appeals denied PMW’s attempt to get an injunction on the release of the names while the group’s appeal to the Federal District Court’s ruling that the names must be released.

PMW already lost the larger war in this case in the US Supreme Court where the group argued and lost last year that Washington State’s public disclosure laws didn’t require petitions to be made public.

However, the Court said they could try to get a specific exception if they could show that releasing the names in this case would endanger people who signed the petition.

Last month, the Federal District Court in Tacoma ruled against PMW on that score and the group is now trying to block the release of the names while it appeals that decision to the 9th Circuit.

To follow our coverage of the R-71 case and all the recent rulings, go here.


  • Mikos

    Boy. I have a hard time understanding why this is not a moot case.  Copies of the petitions have been released and are in the public domain. 

  • AKAF

    Why do the supportors of the gay rights need the names?  What is the purpose?

  • Jason

    I think the larger purpose for some is making people stand by their actions. I think it’s an attempt to take some of the open hate and homophobia out of the gay marriage debate by pulling away some of the curtain of anonymity. Of course there’s also the political aspect that gay-rights groups are going to be pushing for full gay marriage soon and they want people to know that everyone can find out if they do or do not support that position.

  • Mr. X

    They don’t need any particular reason or purpose – the fact that they’re public records that ought to be public is reason and purpose enough.

  • free speech in action

    to go talk to those people and engage in free speech.  we think of free speech as a right …the gummint can’t block us from talking.  but the reason it’s a right is so that people, um, speak.  so if you sign a petition ua sure you betcha someone might knock on your door and say “hey why do you deny equal rights, wanna dialogue on that brother?”  Talking is allowed.  Threats of harm not allowed.  If threats of harm ocurr dial 911 and charge with assualt otherwise if you sign the public petition to change the public law in public knowing the signature will be viewed by many others and used in a public process of public law making don’t act so chagrined if the public comes to your door and says “hey let’s talk” or even “hey why’re you being such  jerk?”  you can always ask them to leave. 

    are these signers AFRAID of people talking to them ..that would be pretty yellow, don’t you agree?