Mon. February 2, 2009
Sacramento, CA -
A Federal judge has denied a request to keep the names of donors to California's anti-gay marriage initiative secret, saying the public has a right to know.
Supporters of Proposition 8, which was approved by voters in November, had sought a preliminary injunction to hide the identities of those who contributed contributed between $100 and $999 to the anti-gay campaign since Oct. 18.
But last Thursday, U.S. District Judge Morrison England Jr. denied a request by sponsors of the Proposition 8 campaign to conceal the names of 1,600 contributors.
"If there ever needs to be sunshine on a political issue, it is with a ballot measure," England said.
On the ruling, a complete list of "Yes on 8" contributors has been published.
Proposition 8 overturned a 2008 state Supreme Court ruling allowing gay marriage.
Locally Century Theatre in Evanston, IL came under fire because Alan Stock, CEO of Plano, TX-based Cinemark, Inc., the owner of the Century Theater, donated $9999 to Proposition 8.
Last November, Nearly 500 people gathered in Evanston to picket Century Theatre and send a message to Cinemark's CEO.
According to campaign disclosure reports made public today, donors from both sides of the issue gave more than $83 million.
The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, which has been criticized for it's stance in the fight over Proposition 8, says it spent nearly $190,000 to get the initiative passed.
Complete list of "Yes On Prop 8" donors
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