Gay-wed supporters post foes’ names on Web site

By Casey Ross, Boston Herald | December 22, 2005

A pro-gay marriage group has made good on threats to publicly out its political opponents by posting an online list of Bay State residents who signed a petition to put a referendum on gay marriage and civil unions on the ballot in 2008.

The list, posted by a group called KnowThyNeighbor, publicizes the names and addresses of some 148,000 people who signed the petition -- a move gay marriage opponents deride as thinlyveiled intimidation.

"They have proceeded through this entire campaign with intimidation tactics," said Lisa Barstow, spokeswoman for the Massachusetts Family Institute, which has lead the petition drive to ban gay marriage. "This is not what we think democracy should be."

But founders of KnowThyNeighbor said the intention behind posting the list online is to root out fraud and encourage community discussion about gay marriage.

"We want people to look at the list and say, ‘That’s my friend. I wonder if he or she understands what (banning gay marriage) would do to me," said Tom Lang, who launched the Web site with a friend, Aaron Toleos. "That’s the sort of communication we know that KnowThyNeighbor will promote."

The most immediately recognizable names were Mitt and Ann Romney. The Web site includes an affidavit for people to fill out if they believe their signatures were fraudulently included on the petition. At least one man whose name was on the list last night said he never offered his support.

"I certainly don’t remember signing anything like that," said Michael Abate of Haverhill.

KnowThyNeighbor got the names of petition signers through the Secretary of State’s office, which accepted about 148,200 signatures from organizers Dec. 7. The proposed ban on gay marriage and civil unions needed 65,825 signatures to get on the ballot in 2008. It also must be approved by at least 25 percent of the Legislature in each of the next two years.

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