After all the breathless coverage of valid and invalid signatures (and knowing at least one state has reason to celebrate today), Referendum 71 will be voted on in Washington. Its passage means the state’s “everything but marriage” law will be decided not by common sense, but by citizens.
With a final tally of 121,486 signatures to put 71 on the ballot, Gary Randall and Larry Stickney’s Protect Marriage Washington scored a thousand more than necessary.
Of course, there’s still that lawsuit from Washington Families Standing Together hoping to stay the ballot measure.
How about we take this to the next level?
Our newsletter is like a refreshing cocktail (or mocktail) of LGBTQ+ entertainment and pop culture, served up with a side of eye-candy.
The new law was supposed to take effect on July 26. But the referendum campaign put it on hold, and the law can now take effect only if approved by state voters Nov. 3.
Rights granted under the latest phase of domestic partnerships range from adoption and child support to public employment benefits – although any benefits that cost the state money, such as pensions, are delayed until 2014 because of the state’s recession-fueled budget problems.
The underlying domestic partnership law, which the Legislature passed in 2007, provided hospital visitation rights, the ability to authorize autopsies and organ donations, and inheritance rights when there is no will.
Last year, lawmakers expanded that law to give domestic partners standing under laws covering probate and trusts, community property and guardianship. Opposite-gender seniors also can register as domestic partners.
If rejected at the polls, R-71 wouldn’t overturn those first two phases of domestic partnerships. But a failure in November would roll back the additional rights approved earlier this year under the “everything but marriage” law.
ask ena
So when can we call out all those f#ckt@rds on their “I don’t care what you do just don’t call it marriage” plea???!
AlwaysGay
Heterosexuals want a playing field that always benefits them. That is why time after time they take away gay people’s rights or disenfranchise us like they did in this process. Election officials accepted more than 1,000 signatures that were signed by one person on the “behalf” of others, which is illegal.
You must APPROVE Referendum 71 in order to protect gay couples’ domestic partnership rights.
https://www.upwardstech.net/approvereferendum71
Things you can do:
* Participate in phonebanks
* Make youtube videos in support of Washington domestic partnerships
* Write emails to Washington newspapers
* Talk to your friends
* Donate to Washington Families Standing Together
terrwill
ASK ENA: @ask ena: YOU HIT THE NAIL RIGHT ON THE FREAKIN HEAD!!! SHOWS THESE SCUMBAGS ARE NOTHING BUT BIGOTS MOTIVATED BY HATE……..
schlukitz
At the rate things are going in this country, and with the religious asshats getting their way at the voting polls, it shouldn’t be too long before they are voting on whether or not we should be rounded up and shipped in cattle cars to the gas chambers.
There are just too many people, like the nut-job pastor Michael Signorele interviewed on his Sirius Radio Show, running around loose. And they vote. Jefferson’s worst nightmare has manifested itself.
I never thought I would live long enough to see my rights being voted away by my fellow Americans.
There are no words to describe what is happening in all parts of this country.