Washington Votes On Everything But Marriage

The campaign surrounding Referendum 71 in Washington, much like Maine’s “No on 1″ campaign, has been the subject of heated debate and classic opposition tactics of confusion and fear-mongering.

Never fear, loyal readers. Speak Equal is here to shed a little light, a little hope, and of course a LOT of encouragement. Voters such as yourselves shouldn’t be victimized and abused with hate language and fear tactics. You should simply be educated and armed with the facts.

Like several of the other campaigns heating up in our great nation today, Referendum 71 is not about “special rights and privileges” any more than it is about the rights of men and women to marry animals or rape young children. Again, statements such as this are merely divisive fear tactics. Referendum 71 (R-71) is a veto referendum to the domestic partnership law known as S.B. 5688, which was passed this year by the Washington state legislature and was signed into law by Gov. Christine Gregoire this May. Since it is a ballot initiative, the referendum still needs the approval of a majority of voters in Washington state to confirm this bill as law. The Protect Marriage in Washington group (which runs the campaign Reject R-71) and other opponents of the state law are campaigning to reject the referendum, so that domestic partnership rights are not expanded to include same-sex couples. A vote to approve the referendum would confirm domestic partnership rights for same-sex couples in Washington state. The most recent polling on R-71 shows that 53 percent voters approve of the measure.

Vote YES to pass Referendum 71 and extend equal rights to domestic partners in Washington State!

For more information, we’ve included a few news articles that provide more insight into the campaign, its supporters, and its opposition:

The LGBT Battle in Seattle

Washington state votes on a measure that would ensure domestic partnership rights to its LGBT residents. Youth voter turnout will be key in whether the measure passes today. [READ MORE]

Referendum Would Extend Protections to Gay Couples

SEATTLE — Referendum 71, a proposal to extend more legal protections to domestic partners in Washington State, has been nicknamed “everything but marriage.” But its opponents say even that is an understatement. [READ MORE]