Contributors to Group Opposing Initiated Act 1
Last week a gay rights activists group called Know Thy Neighbor completed a project of posting a database of all the signers of the petition to get Arkansas Initiated Act 1 on the ballot last year. Act 1 bans individuals who are cohabiting outside of a valid marriage from adopting or being foster parents. Over 83,000 Arkansans signed the petition and the Act was passed by 57% of the voters in November.
Know Thy Neighbor put this database on their website with full search capabilities including name, address, and date of birth. Family Council Action Committee, the chief sponsor of Initiated Act 1, was quick to cry foul. “The truth is, since gay activists can’t win at the ballot box, they are trying to win by creating a ‘chilling effect’ that will intimidate voters from signing petitions,” said Jerry Cox, Director of Family Council Action Committee. “Stifling a form of free speech is ultimately their last line of defense.”
Not so says Tom Lang, Director of Know Thy Neighbor. “This is about responsibility and dialogue,” said Lang. “These petition signers need to stand behind their signatures and be responsible for this dehumanizing attack on the gay community. It’s disgraceful that they have chosen to exercise their prejudice at the expense of children who are now being denied access to loving adoptive and foster parents. Such activity must be challenged and cannot be allowed to pass under the cover of darkness.”
In the fairness of this “responsibility and dialogue,” I feel it is fair to know who some of the primary opponents of Initiated Act 1 are. Therefore, I have posted a searchable database of the contributors to Arkansas Families First, the group organized to oppose Initiated Act 1. Granted with only around 300 names the database is not near as expansive as the 83,000 petition signers but there are some names that you will probably find interesting.
I obtained this list from Arkansas Families First’s public filing at the Arkansas Ethics Commission back in December while working on a post regarding the contribution from the Attorney General Dustin McDaniel’s Leadership PAC; however, at the time there was no real need to publish the entire list. Now, I think it is time to post it. The list includes the leaders from the Arkansas House of Representatives , the Arkansas Senate, several businesses and even a church, as well as several potential candidates in 2010.
Enjoy searching the database and the dialogue opened up by Know Thy Neighbor.
May 4th, 2009 at 7:29 am
Very interesting. I’m glad you posted this.
May 4th, 2009 at 7:54 am
[...] The Tolbert Report decides that turnabout is fair play and posts an online searchable database of those who contributed to Arkansas Families First, an advocacy organization established to fight Act 1. He’s posted his explanation here. Let [...]
May 4th, 2009 at 8:12 am
New blog post: Contributors to Group Opposing Initiated Act 1 http://tinyurl.com/c9bn6q
May 4th, 2009 at 8:22 am
Tolbert: Contributors to Group Opposing Initiated Act 1: Last week a gay rights activists group called K.. http://tinyurl.com/c9bn6q
May 4th, 2009 at 6:44 pm
[...] I feel it is fair to know who some of (the) primary opponents of Initiated Act 1 (are),” writes Jason Tolbert on his website, The Tolbert [...]
May 6th, 2009 at 2:04 pm
Is there anyway that more people can be added to this list? How much did someone have to donate to be on it? I know I donated at least $25 to Arkansas Families First and I’m not on the list. I was out actively campaigning against it. I’m proud of supporting equal and civil rights for all and would be more than happy to have my name on this list. Why are you surprised a church was on the list? It’s not like all Arkansans are Southern Baptists.
May 7th, 2009 at 10:41 am
I’m glad you posted this, too. Standing on principles is important, but why oppose the tactic then do the same? Just do it and don’t act like your wittle feelings are hurt first.
It’s very entertaining, and typifies today’s political discourse, how quickly this post went from disgust about that “chilling effect” to “a searchable database of the contributors to Arkansas Families First.” Isn’t it silly?
Both lists are fine, but they have the exact opposite intended effect.
May 7th, 2009 at 11:52 am
Mr. Young, the list is from the filings of Arkansas Families First with the Arkansas Ethics Commission. I believe there is a theresold for having to itemize the name of the contributor and $25 must be below this amount. On the church, I actualy believe this was made in error and was meant for the Families First Foundation of Arkansas – http://www.arfamiliesfirst.org/ – but I am still researching that one.
Nate, good points and thanks for the comment. Just two responces. First, the “chilling effect” quote was not from me but from Jerry Cox who had nothing to do with posting this list. I did that on my own. Second, in my mind there is a huge difference between posting the lists of financial contributors and the list of petition signers. I did the former but I do not believe I would have done the latter. But that is just me.