Document ID: ./input/supremecourt_opinions/opinions/boundvolumes/558bv.pdf
Page Number: 642.0

Cite as: 558 U. S. 310 (2010) 

481 

Opinion of Thomas, J. 

California’s Constitution to provide that “[o]nly marriage be­
tween  a man  and  a woman  is valid  or  recognized in  Califor­
nia.”  Cal.  Const.,  Art.  I,  § 7.5.  Any  donor  who  gave  more 
than $100 to any committee supporting or opposing Proposi­
tion 8 was required to disclose his full name, street address, 
occupation,  employer’s  name  (or  business  name,  if  self-
employed),  and  the  total  amount  of  his  contributions.1  See 
Cal. Govt. Code Ann. § 84211(f) (West 2005).  The California 
Secretary  of  State  was  then  required  to  post  this  informa­
tion  on  the  Internet.  See  §§ 84600–84601;  §§ 84602–84602.1 
(West  Supp.  2010);  §§ 84602.5–84604  (West  2005);  § 85605 
(West Supp. 2010); §§ 84606–84609 (West 2005). 

Some opponents of Proposition 8 compiled this information 
and  created  Web  sites  with  maps  showing  the  locations  of 
homes or businesses of Proposition 8 supporters.  Many sup­
porters  (or  their  customers)  suffered  property  damage,  or 
threats of physical violence or death, as a result.  They cited 
these  incidents  in a  complaint  they  ﬁled  after the  2008  elec­
tion,  seeking  to  invalidate  California’s  mandatory  disclosure 
laws.  Supporters recounted being told: “ ‘Consider yourself 
lucky.  If I had a gun I would have gunned you down along 
with  each  and  every  other  supporter,’ ”  or,  “ ‘we  have  plans 
for you and your friends. ’ ”  Complaint in ProtectMar­
riage.com—Yes  on  8  v.  Bowen,  Case  No.  2:09–cv–00058– 
MCE–DAD  (ED  Cal.),  ¶ 31.  Proposition  8  opponents  also 
allegedly  harassed  the  measure’s  supporters  by  defacing  or 
damaging  their  property.  Id.,  ¶ 32.  Two  religious  organi­
zations supporting Proposition 8 reportedly received through 
the  mail  envelopes  containing  a  white  powdery  substance. 
Id., ¶ 33. 

1 BCRA  imposes  similar  disclosure  requirements.  See,  e. g.,  2 U.  S.  C.  
§ 434(f)(2)(F)  (“Every  person  who  makes  a  disbursement  for  the  direct 
costs  of  producing  and  airing  electioneering  communications  in  an  aggre­
gate amount in excess of $10,000 during any calendar year” must disclose 
“the  names  and  addresses  of  all  contributors  who  contributed  an  aggre­
gate  amount  of  $1,000  or  more  to  the  person  making  the  disbursement”).