Oregon Public Broadcasting

The legal battle over the release of Referendum 71 petitions in Washington continues. This is the ballot measure voters defeated last November. In doing so, they upheld a gay rights law. But sponsors still want to keep the petitions secret. As Austin Jenkins reports, it now looks like a fall trial in federal court is likely.

The fight is over whether Washington state can release the petitions voters signed to put R-71 on last fall's ballot. Back in June, the U.S. Supreme Court ruled that in general petitions are public.

But if the sponsors of a specific initiative or referendum can demonstrate that identifying those who signed the petitions would endanger them, then exceptions can be made.

That's what Protect Marriage Washington will aim to prove in a trial -- expected later this year.

Larry Stickney sponsored R-71 and insists he's not flogging a dead horse.

Larry Stickney: "The danger at this point remains. I've been contacted by several people who say if my name is released I'm toast at my job. I got an email for instance from a person who works for state government, Department of Corrections, whose boss is apparently very militant on this issue and they fear reprisal there."

Washington's Secretary of State and Attorney General, both Republicans, maintain there's no evidence petition signers would face harm.

For now the petitions will remain sealed pending the trial.