Vote To Approve Referendum 71

An email I sent out this morning:

Hello -

I need your support on November 3rd. Earlier this year, the Washington State Senate passed a bill (SB 5688) expanding the rights and responsibilities of state registered domestic partnerships. However, before this law—it was signed by Governor Christine Gregoire on May 18th—could go into effect, groups seeking to block the expansion of the rights petitioned for a referendum to put it to a statewide vote. This is Referendum 71, and it will be on the November ballot. This is the case for all Washington residents, not just residents of King County or elsewhere. As I said, I need your support in APPROVING this referendum. A vote to Approve it is a vote to allow for the bill to pass. Here is how it will appear on your ballot:

Referendum 71

Ballot Title
Statement of Subject: The legislature passed Engrossed Second Substitute Senate Bill 5688 concerning rights and responsibilities of state-registered domestic partners [and voters have filed a sufficient referendum petition on this bill].

Concise Description: This bill would expand the rights, responsibilities, and obligations accorded state-registered same-sex and senior domestic partners to be equivalent to those of married spouses, except that a domestic partnership is not a marriage.

Should this bill be: Approved ___ Rejected ___

Ballot Measure Summary
Same-sex couples, or any couple that includes one person age sixty-two or older, may register as a domestic partnership with the state. Registered domestic partnerships are not marriages, and marriage is prohibited except between one man and one woman. This bill would expand the rights, responsibilities, and obligations of registered domestic partners and their families to include all rights, responsibilities, and obligations granted by or imposed by state law on married couples and their families.

Please tell your friends, family, and coworkers that we need to vote to preserve equal rights protection for domestic partners.

If you are not registered to vote, or your registration information needs updating, please go here. You can also call (206) 296 – VOTE (8683). I am more than happy to answer any questions you may have regarding any of this. Feel free to forward this email to everyone you know. Thank you! Remember, APPROVE Referendum 71.

Jon Brock
[Phone number omitted]
www.lackingcreativity.com

Referendum 71 Has Made It Onto The Ballot

Washington State's Referendum 71, the attempt to block the expansion of domestic partnership rights, has reportedly made the ballot for the November 3rd general election. However, nothing is official at this point, which means we must continue to agonize over whether or not our--being the gay community--rights are up for a vote in two months time. The Stranger has more information here.

Let's Put Your "Marriage" Up For A Vote

The general election for Washington State is on November 3rd. If Referendum 71, which seeks to block the expansion of state registered domestic partnerships, makes it onto the ballot, then voters need to vote to APPROVE the referendum. A vote to approve it is a vote to grant domestic partners* rights almost equal to those of married couples under Washington State law. If you're against same-sex marriage, fine; I strongly disagree with you. But this is not a legalization of same-sex marriage. So what does this domestic partnership do, exactly? From the Olympian:

The Senate Bill gives same-sex couples:

• The right to use sick leave to care for a domestic partner.

• The right to wages and benefits when a domestic partner is injured, and to unpaid wages upon the death of a domestic partner. The right to unemployment and disability insurance benefits.

• The right to workers’ compensation coverage.

• Insurance rights, including rights under group policies, policy rights after the death of a domestic partner, conversion rights and continuing coverage rights.

• Rights related to adoption, child custody and child support.

• Business succession rights.

Please vote on November 3rd, if for nothing else, to APPROVE Referendum 71. A vote to Reject or not voting at all tells me that you do not support equal rights protection.

*According to RCW 26.60.030, "To enter into a state registered domestic partnership the two persons involved must meet the following requirements: ... (6) Either (a) both persons are members of the same sex; or (b) at least one of the persons is sixty-two years of age or older."

Washington Domestic Partnerships Likely To Stay

After conversing with a friend who works in the State House, and doing some research of my own, it appears that the expanded domestic partnership rights bill will be approved by the House and sent to Governor Christine Gregoire for signing into law.

The Senate passed the bill (SB 5688) on March 10, 2009, and issued this report. The House issued this one. The bill allows for virtually the same legal rights for same-sex couples as those provided to opposite-sex ones, short of using the word "marriage". Furthermore, another high point of this bill's life in the legislature is that it was amended to not include it on the next general election's ballot. That is to say, it will not be put to a vote of the people (such as we saw happen, albeit in a different context, in California with Proposition 8).

The House Judiciary Committee will be including the bill in their hearings tomorrow, March 23rd, as well as in an executive session on Thursday, March 26th.

Re: For Immediate Mass Distribution

The Washington State Senate bill (SB 5688) that I mentioned here passed by a vote of 30 to 18. There is hope after all. Read the Stranger's Slog post here.

For Immediate Mass Distribution

If you do not already know, there is a bill in the Washington State Senate (SB 5688) that would expand the legal rights for domestic partnerships. This is not gay marriage; it is a proposed bill granting equal legal rights of which heterosexual couples already have. Let me be clear, heterosexuals have legal rights that homosexuals (myself included) do not. I am sure you know other gay and lesbian people amongst your family and friends, and they are legally less-than-equal as well.

There is currently an attack ad campaign fighting against the senate bill, and if it continues, Senators up for re-election will feel pressure to vote it down, and we (gays and lesbians) will continue to be discriminated against. The attack campaign is misleading in that it argues that domestic partnership rights would threaten and "redefine marriage". The word 'marriage' is nowhere to be found in the 'domestic partnership' bill, and thus could not possibly redefine marriage.

Please help by calling your Senator (and Representative) and tell them you support the domestic partnership bill. If you have friends and family elsewhere in Washington, please urge them to do the same. There is absolutely no reason why homosexuals should not have the same rights that the vast majority of people have. None. Please help fight this campaign of fear and intolerance.

From the Stranger (SLOG):

What needs to happen? Supporters of domestic partnerships who live in swing districts--i.e., outside of Seattle--need to make personal contact with their senator and representatives. Tell them about how your same-sex relationship is lovely and you support domestic partnership rights, or say that you want your lesbian daughter to have the same rights as your straight son (or whatever is personal to you)...Call them. Send an email. Live in Seattle? Call your parents or friends who live in the suburbs and ask them to help.

For information on the legislative process or to leave a message for a member, contact the Legislative Hotline at the in-state toll-free phone number 1.800.562.6000. For complete information about the Legislative Hotline, please see the Legislative Service Center's Contacting Your Legislator page.

I'm not going to remain quiet about this.

Jon Brock

*Many thanks to Erin for the edits (and firm support), and Rene for the firm support.