Date: Mon, 11 Jul 1994 00:02:54 -0700 (PDT)
From: Richard Isaac <rmisaac@eskimo.com>

from the Seattle Post-Intelligencer, page one (above the fold), w/o 
permission, all typos and brackets mine:

608,610 WON'T BE ON BALLOT
Initiatives against gay rights fall short of signatures needed

by Scott Maier and Michael Paulson, P-I reporters

Two statewide initiatives to curb gay rights died yesterday for lack of 
signatures in a startling twin defeat that took supporters and opponents 
alike by surprise.

<material deleted>

Leaders of the campaigns to curb gay rights promised they would try again 
to get their initiatives to a vote.

"Initiative 608 would not take away anyone's rights.  People understand 
better now that is the issue," said Doug Burman, the initiative's 
leader.  "It simply means that we're not going to vote on this in November."

...

Opponents were relieved but astonished that Initiative 608 fell short.

"I'm still feeling numb," said Charles Brydon, charmain of the Hands Off 
Washington campaign.  "From the very beginning, we thought they would 
have no difficulty in validating this thing.  I'm happy we're wrong."

Several state elected officials yesterday hailed the demise of the 
anti-gay rights initiative.

"Washington voters did not support Initiative 608 because the people of 
this state will not permit intolerance and discrimination," said a 
statement by Gov. Mike Lowry, Treasurer Dan Grimm, Auditor Brian Sonntag, 
Attorney General Christine Gregoire, Superintendent of Public Instruction 
Judith Billings and Insurance Commissioner Deborah Senn.

...

Backers of I-608 and 610 said their efforts were crippled by "gestapo 
tactics" engaged by the Bigot Busters, a group that aggessively followed 
signature-gatherers and urged voters not to sign the petitions.

Washington's elections chief said he will investigate those complaints 
and may seek legislation protecting signature gatherers from harassment.

"We need to make it clear that harassment is not going to be tolerated as 
a way to stop an initiative," Munoro said.  "Harassment is not a good 
strategy, no matter what the issue is."

Initiative supporters said they faced another unexpected hurdle: voter 
disinterest.

...

"Quite frankly, we didn't have the organization, leadership...that we 
needed," [said Burman, I-608 leader.]

However, he said this year's unsuccessful campaign provided the base of 
support needed to get an initiative on the ballot in 1995.

       *  Richard Isaac		
    __*_*___			*************************
    \*   * /    Seattle		* INITIATIVES   608/610 *
    *\    * 			* b. 1/10/94  d. 7/8/94 *
   ***\**/**    rmisaac         *************************
       \/   @eskimo.com