Court hears dispute on petition signers' names

WASHINGTON (AP) - Gay rights opponents are asking the Supreme Court to protect the anonymity of the signers of a petition that sought a vote to overturn Washington state's domestic partnership rights.

The case being argued at the high court Wednesday weighs the right to political speech, unfettered by fear of intimidation, against transparency in government.

Opponents of the law that expanded the rights of gay couples mounted a petition drive that succeeded in getting a referendum on the "everything-but-marriage" law on last year's ballot. But voters narrowly backed the law that grants registered domestic partners the same legal rights as married couples.

Gay rights supporters sought access to the petitions under Washington's open records law.