Despite a law on the books banning same-sex marriage, Washington State voters approved expanded domestic partnership rights, as Referendum 71 is officially approved. SPI: “In just 6 short weeks the Approve 71 Campaign engaged Washington voters in a conversation that lead to the historic vote to approve Referendum 71 to keep the domestic partnership law, on November 3, 2009. A coalition of over 500 organizations came together in one of Washington’s shortest elections ever. Over 200 hundred faith based communities stood up for Washington’s lesbian, gay, and senior families. Major employers like Boeing, Microsoft, Starbucks, and Google sent a strong message that they value all their employees.”
It’s Official: Washington Says YES to Referendum 71
Help make sure LGBTQ+ stories are being told...
We can't rely on mainstream media to tell our stories. That's why we don't lock Queerty articles behind a paywall. Will you support our mission with a contribution today?
Cancel anytime · Proudly LGBTQ+ owned and operated
KyleR
Now the next question is, what will the Religious Freaks do to try to overturn this. Because, you know; God hates us Gays and will punish Washington State for allowing this.
Merv
R71 was the religious freaks’ attempt to stop it. The legislature passed “everything but marriage” and the anti-gays gathered enough signatures to force a vote on it.
naghanenu
….THUS NAILING MY POINT. PPLE SUPPORT DOMESTIC PARTNERSHIPS AND CIVIL UNIONS BUT CANT STOMACH GAY MARRIAGE. SO GO AFTER THIS AND ASK FOR EXPANDED RIGHTS SN U ARE GTEED A VICTORY
CONGRATS!!!!
strumpetwindsock
@ #3
Sorry man. Scream it in all-caps, but you are still mistaken.
I’m sure plenty of people felt society would never stomach emancipation and women’s suffrage either. The fact is if you had a government with the will to get behind human rights and enforce them then the dinosaurs learn pretty damn fast, or at least not have the power to inflict their discriminatory nonsense on others.
We have plenty of homophobes and bigots up in Canada too; we don’t live in a perfect world either. The difference is that they keep their mouths shut on this issue because the fight is over and it is the law. If your legislatures and judiciary paid more attention to the law rather than polls and surveys it could be just the same down there too.
Robert Christian
As happy as I am that Referendum 71 passed,-it is odd that Protect Marriage Washington is still not happy with the ” voice of the voter’s” in Washington State.
They are now thinking hard on how to once again overturn the voices of those in Washington-,and to attempt to overturn the law by once again having extreme focus on religious right wingers.
While, it is a step forward for our state and for the GLBT community at large-it is not quite over yet.
We should be demanding from Washington DC- not the state-full marriage rights. The state can only do so much, while Washington DC and those officials we voted into office can declare that Marriage is to be and is afforded to every American, no matter if they are gay or not.
I covered the Rreferendum 71 story on Televison as a moderator.
Go to Youtube.com and type in Referendum 71 Debate, and you will see the program.
Even on set-,the protect marriage washington spokesperson Bob Struble hardly knew what he was fighting against.
He had some facts, but he did not have the truth. Most intrested in the Knights of Colombus group, and his own hate, the truth did come out.
206-736-9688 HourForum.net the longest running LGBT television program in the pacific northwest