DC: Supreme Court to Hear WA State Petitions Case on April 28th

The U.S. Supreme Court has scheduled an April 28 hearing on whether Washington state officials can release the names of signers of a ballot measure that sought to repeal a gay rights law. The court agreed to hear the case in January after Protect Marriage Washington appealed a 9th Circuit Court of Appeals decision that ordered the release of nearly 138,000 signatures that put Referendum 71 on last fall's ballot.

Referendum 71 asked voters to accept – or reject – a domestic partnership law approved by lawmakers that gives gay couples all the rights of marriage. Voters opted to keep the law.

Opponents say releasing the names would put signers at risk of harassment, reprisals and boycotts of their businesses, amounting to an unconstitutional infringement of free speech rights.

Full Story from On Top Magazine
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US: Supreme Court To Hear Referendum 71 Signature Case, Likely in April

The U.S. Supreme Court will decide whether the names of Washington voters who sign a petition to put a law on the ballot can be made public. The high court could hear the case of Doe v. Reed as early as April, taking up the fight over the names and addresses of people who signed petitions to put Referendum 71 on last year’s November ballot. That referendum sought to overturn expanded rights for same-sex and elderly heterosexual couples. Supporters of gay rights filed a public records request for the names of everyone who signed the petitions; referendum sponsors objected, saying they feared the signers would be harassed. A few hours after the nation’s high court announced it was adding the case to its schedule, a state legislative committee considered dueling bills spawned by the dispute. One would provide an exemption to the state’s Public Records Act for the names and addresses on initiative or referendum petitions; the other would state categorically that they are public records. Full Story from the Spokesman-Review

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US: Referendum 71 Signature Case Decision Due by Mid January

John Doe vs. Sam Reed could well determine once and for all whether Washington's Public Records Act, which seeks transparency of all government records, violates the First Amendment rights of voters who sign ballot petitions. The high court will decide at a Jan. 15 meeting whether to accept or reject the case and then announce later that day — or the following Monday, Jan. 18 — if it will hear arguments. If justices take the case, attorneys representing the state and Protect Marriage Washington, which brought the original lawsuit, will likely argue before the court in April, with a decision likely by the end of June. If the Supreme Court decides not to hear it, a 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals decision allowing release of the names will take effect, according to the Secretary of State's Office. Full Story from the Seattle Times: http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/localnews/2010627697_supremecourt30m.html

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WA: Seattle Lawmaker to Introduce Public Record Bill for Referendum Signatures

A Democratic state lawmaker from Seattle plans to pre-file a bill Monday for the 2010 legislative session that would clarify that signatures, names and addresses of people who sign initiatives and referendums are part of the public record. The issue of releasing names of people who sign referendums and initiatives surfaced earlier this year in the fight over the new "everything but marriage" law that expands rights for gay domestic partners in Washington state. "I'm not sure how our state action might impact things," Rep. Reuven Carlyle said in an e-mail. "But I feel it's a vital piece of democracy to take a stand in favor of openness, transparency and access. One would assume a state Legislature's view on an issue holds some consideration for the courts." Conservative groups circulated petitions to get a measure on last month's ballot that attempted to block the new law. However the state's voters upheld the new law through Referendum 71. Full Story from Seattle PI: http://blog.seattlepi.com/seattlepolitics/archives/187330.asp?from=blog_last3

Click here for gay marriage resources in Washington State.

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WA: Too Soon for Gay Marriage Battle in Washington State, Both Sides Say

Those who opposed each other on Referendum 71 agree on one thing: Don't look for gay marriage on a ballot in 2010. And don't expect the Legislature to make it legal or a judge to decide the issue. Leaders on both sides say it's too soon to revisit the issue. “I think we have to be engaged in a prolonged conversation with the people of Washington before we can achieve marriage equality. I think 2010 is too soon,” said Joshua Friedes, manager of the Approve R-71 campaign. Full Story from HeraldNet: http://heraldnet.com/article/20091108/NEWS01/711089879

Planning to marry your partner? Click here for gay marriage resources in Washington State.

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AP Calls Referendum 71 in Washington for Domestic Partnership Supporters

Washington voters have approved the state's new "everything but marriage" law, expanding rights for domestic partners and marking the first time any state's voters have approved a gay equality measure at the ballot box. With about 72 percent of the expected vote counted Thursday in unofficial returns, Referendum 71 was leading 52 percent to 48 percent, with a margin of about 60,000 votes. Sen. Ed Murray, a Seattle Democrat who spearheaded the law, called it "a great step forward for equality in Washington state." Full Story from AP: http://www.google.com/hostednews/ap/article/ALeqM5hlGpneLaOG2koLv6cpbAJoCwS6jQD9BPNSL00

Planning to marry your partner? Click here for gay marriage resource in Washington State.

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Referendum 71 in Washington Continues Slim Lead

When Referendum 71 qualified for the ballot a few months ago, it made gay and lesbian couples uneasy. The ballot measure was going to allow voters to decide whether same-sex partners would get many of the same rights as married couples. Post-election ballot tallies were putting their fears to rest, with their cause holding a slim but steady statewide edge on Wednesday. “This is a historic vote,” said Joshua Friedes, campaign manager for Approve 71. “It is the first time that any state has affirmatively voted to protect gay and lesbian families with a system of comprehensive legal protections.” Full Story from HeraldNet: http://heraldnet.com/article/20091105/NEWS01/711059859

Planning to marry your partner? Click here for gay marriage resources in Washington State.

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Washington State May Have Approved Domestic Partnership Bill by Narrow Margin

Early figures from Washington state suggest that voters have opted to approve a new 'everything but marriage' measure for gay couples. As yet, fewer than half of the votes have been counted and current support levels are at 52 per cent. All but one of Washington's counties vote by post, meaning that a final result may not be available until the end of the week. Full Story from Pink News: http://www.pinknews.co.uk/2009/11/04/early-numbers-suggest-washington-voters-approve-expanded-gay-rights/

Planning to marry your partner? Click here for gay marriage resources.

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Referendum 71 Ahead 57% to 38% Among Washington's Likely Voters

The yearly Washington Poll shows the statewide Referendum 71 for gay couples’ rights passing one week before the Nov. 3 election, while Tim Eyman's tax-limiting Initiative 1033 is trailing. The poll was conducted by a social research school at the University of Washington that has a track record of correctly forecasting election results. Its poll shows: R-71 is winning by a 56 percent to 39 percent margin among registered voters. The edge was 57-38 among likely voters; likely voters were those who have sent in ballots already or said they voted in November 2007. Full Story from the Olympian: http://www.theolympian.com/southsound/story/1016921.html

Planning to marry your partner? Click here for gay marriage resources in Washington State .

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Judge Refuses to Allow Referendum 71 Foes to Ignore Contribution Caps, Flood the Race With Money Last-Minute

R-71 is the ballot measure that asks Washington voters to approve or reject the state's everything but marriage law. Washington Family PAC opposes the gay rights measure and last week sued in federal court to challenge two key Washington campaign finance laws. One requires campaigns to report the names, addresses and employers of donors. The other restricts contributions to 5-thousand dollars in the 21-days preceding the election. Washington Family argues those rules discourage participation in the political process. But that ship has sailed says Nancy Krier, attorney for Washington's Public Disclosure Commission. Nancy Krier: "To attempt to change all the rules of the game while these campaigns are ongoing and this close to the election is inappropriate." The judge agreed with the PDC and refused to issue a temporary restraining order. A trial on the merits of the case could still go forward after the election. Full Story from KPLU: http://www.publicbroadcasting.net/kplu/news.newsmain/article/1/0/1571215/KPLU.Local.News/Federal.Judge.Keeps.WA.Contribution.Caps

Planning to marry your partner? Click here for gay marriage resources in Washington State.

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Colbert Takes Gay Marriage Foes in Washington State to Task

Stephen Colbert returned to air last night after a week off with a particularly funny and diverse episode, tackling everything from George Will's sartorial hypocrisy to gay rights. The latter segment focused on recent legislation passed in the state of Washington called "Everything But Marriage" which expanded the state's domestic partnership law to offer same-sex couples the same rights as straight married people. This legislation was met with deep dismay by Protect Marriage Washington, an anti-gay marriage group which collected signatures to get a referendum on the ballot to overturn the law, but refuses to produce the list of those who signed the petition to prove its validity to detractors. Enter Stephen Colbert. The host used rhetoric usually reserved to discuss the rights of homosexuals to turn the whole debate on its head and expose the inherent hilarity: "I don't believe it is a choice, I believe you're born thinking gays don't have the right to get married or even be joined in union. And folks, the gays have no right to out those people." Full Story from the Huffington Post: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2009/10/27/colbert-eviscerates-gay-m_n_335076.html

Planning to marry your partner? Click here for gay marriage resources in Washington State.

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Update on the Referendum 71 Fight in Washington State

Lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) rights in Washington state are facing a crucial vote. Voters are choosing whether to approve or reject SB 5688--a domestic partnership expansion bill passed earlier this year by the state legislature and signed into law by the governor in May. The law would grant the rights of civil marriage in Washington state--like sharing health benefits and death benefits, and hospital visitation rights--to same-sex couples and heterosexual partners where at least one of the two people is over the age of 62, without calling it "marriage." Everyone registered to vote in Washington state should vote to approve Referendum 71 and protect the rights of LGBT couples and seniors. This "Everything but Marriage" law--as it is referred to by its supporters--is the culmination of a strategy of working toward marriage equality by first creating the domestic partnership category for same-sex couples, and then adding more and more rights until domestic partners have the same state-granted rights as married couples do, just without the name. Full Story from SocialistWorker.org: http://socialistworker.org/2009/10/26/fight-for-referendum-71

Planning to marry your partner? Click here for gay marriage resources in Washington State.

To subscribe to this blog, use the rss feed on the right, or use the form at right to join our email list. You can also email us at info@purpleunions.com. Or find us on Facebook - just search for Gay Marriage Watch (you'll see our b/w wedding pic overlooking the Ferry Building and Bay Bridge in SF). We're also tweeting daily at http://www.twitter.com/gaymarriagewatc.

WA Anti Gay Marriage Group Sues State So It Can Accept More Money

A Lynnwood-based organization that opposes the state's domestic partnership law and is working to defeat Referendum 71 has filed suit in U.S. District Court in Tacoma seeking to circumvent campaign contribution limits of $5,000 and to keep secret the names of those who make smaller donations. State campaign finance laws require campaigns to disclose names and addresses of those who donate over $25 to a campaign. Campaigns must also include employer names and addresses as well as the occupations of donors contributing over $100. The laws limit to $5,000 contributions from businesses and individuals made within 21 days of the general election. The attorney for the Family Policy Institute of Washington, which filed the lawsuit through its newly formed Family PAC late Wednesday, acknowledged that there are substantial contributions in the offing that the campaign wants to accept but can't because of the limits. Full Story from TDN.com: http://www.tdn.com/articles/2009/10/23/breaking_news/doc4ae169be20afe092434496.txt

Planning to marry your partner? Click here for gay marriage resources in Washington State.

To subscribe to this blog, use the rss feed on the right, or use the form at right to join our email list. You can also email us at info@purpleunions.com. Or find us on Facebook - just search for Gay Marriage Watch (you'll see our b/w wedding pic overlooking the Ferry Building and Bay Bridge in SF). We're also tweeting daily at http://www.twitter.com/gaymarriagewatc.

Washington Referendum Shows it's Not Really About the Word "Marriage"

With all the attention that Beyond Chron has given to Maine’s Question 1, we would be remiss not to mention that Washington State has a similar ballot fight November 3rd. The difference is that in Washington the battle is over domestic partnerships (not gay marriage), which makes a victory there less historically significant. I also felt from the start that Referendum 71 was a more winnable cause, because a number of swing voters who are uncomfortable with granting marriage rights to gay couples strongly support civil unions. But you wouldn’t know this based on how the right in Washington has waged their campaign. Opponents of Referendum 71 say their fight is about “protecting marriage” – and view Washington’s domestic partner law as an assault on their theocratic agenda. Meanwhile, their allies in Maine claim to have nothing against gay couples having all of the same rights and benefits – but their problem is with re-defining the term “marriage.” How they’re waging the campaign in Washington exposes this as a bald faced lie. In Maine, the state legislature and Governor passed a marriage equality law – and the right has used the “People’s Veto” process to collect signatures and put it on the ballot. In Washington, the legislature and Governor passed Senate Bill 5688 to create a domestic partnership law similar to what we currently have in California – and the right has used the “referendum” process to collect signatures and put it on the ballot. Full Story from Beyond Chron: http://www.beyondchron.org/news/index.php?itemid=7459#more

Planning to marry your partner? Click here for gay marriage resources in Washington State.

To subscribe to this blog, use the rss feed on the right, or use the form at right to join our email list. You can also email us at info@purpleunions.com. Or find us on Facebook - just search for Gay Marriage Watch (you'll see our b/w wedding pic overlooking the Ferry Building and Bay Bridge in SF). We're also tweeting daily at http://www.twitter.com/gaymarriagewatc.

Gay Rights Opponents Ask US Supreme Court to Block Referendum 71 Signature Release

That's the latest last evening from Gary Randall, leader of the Faith & Freedom Network who also is a leader in the Protect Marriage Washington campaign. The gay rights opponents want the U.S. Supreme Court to step in after the 9th Circuit Court of Appeals on Thursday ordered the Washington Secretary of State Sam Reed to release the signatures and names of Referendum 71 signers. A Seattle man who supports the domestic-partnership rights of R-71 wants to publish the names on a website, whosigned.com. The R-71 campaign says it does not condone that action, and Reed’s office has said the same; but state elections officials contend the signatures petitions are public records and have been treated as such for several years. Full Story from The Olympian: http://www.theolympian.com/politicsblog/story/1005609.html

Planning to marry your partner? Click here for gay marriage resources in Washington State.

To subscribe to this blog, use the rss feed on the right, or use the form at right to join our email list. You can also email us at info@purpleunions.com. Or find us on Facebook - just search for Gay Marriage Watch (you'll see our b/w wedding pic overlooking the Ferry Building and Bay Bridge in SF). We're also tweeting daily at http://www.twitter.com/gaymarriagewatc.

Washington Judge Blocks Release of All Petition Signatures, Including R71, Until Full 9th Circuit Ruling Released - Hearing Tuesday

Thurston County Superior Court Judge Richard Hicks has scheduled a hearing Tuesday at 1:30 p.m. to hear the state's request that the names of people who signed petitions seeking to have a new, expanded gay rights law overturned be made public. The 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals on Thursday granted an immediate stay and reversed a lower court's preliminary injunction blocking the release of Referendum 71 petitions. Last month a federal judge blocked the release of names of people who signed R-71. U.S. District Court Judge Benjamin Settle said releasing the names could violate the First Amendment rights of those who signed petitions to get R-71 on the ballot. The secretary of state's office criticized the ruling, saying it was "a step away from open government." Full Story from the Seattle PI: http://blog.seattlepi.com/seattlepolitics/archives/182328.asp?from=blog_last3

Planning to marry your partner? Click here for gay marriage resources in Washington State.

To subscribe to this blog, use the rss feed on the right, or use the form at right to join our email list. You can also email us at info@purpleunions.com. Or find us on Facebook - just search for Gay Marriage Watch (you'll see our b/w wedding pic overlooking the Ferry Building and Bay Bridge in SF). We're also tweeting daily at http://www.twitter.com/gaymarriagewatc.

Bellingham, WA City Council Endorses R71, Domestic Partnerships

In a fairly unsurprising session, City Council members passed resolutions opposing a government revenue-restricting initiative from Tim Eyman and backing a domestic partnership law. The council unanimously, with Councilman Gene Knutson absent, approved a resolution opposing Eyman's Initiative 1033, which limits the growth of certain city, county and state revenue to the rate of inflation and population growth. Members also, in a 5-0 vote with Councilman Stan Snapp abstaining, passed a resolution urging voters to approve Referendum 71, which would enact a domestic partnership law that has been dubbed the "everything but marriage" law. Full Story from the Bellingham Herald: http://www.bellinghamherald.com/localnews/story/1111499.html

Planning to marry your partner? Click here for gay marriage resources.

To subscribe to this blog, use the rss feed on the right, or use the form at right to join our email list. You can also email us at info@purpleunions.com. Or find us on Facebook - just search for Gay Marriage Watch (you'll see our b/w wedding pic overlooking the Ferry Building and Bay Bridge in SF). We're also tweeting daily at http://www.twitter.com/gaymarriagewatc.

Family Policy Institute Gives $200K to Fight Domestic Partnerships in Washington State

Opponents of the state's domestic-partnership law, who until now had depended largely on small donations from retirees and housewives across the state, got a $200,000 boost this week from the local affiliate of a national conservative evangelical organization. It is the single largest contribution on either side of Referendum 71 — doubling the $100,000 donated by Microsoft to supporters of gay rights — and raising the stakes in the battle over the state's domestic-partnership law. The amount arrived just in advance of Tuesday's deadline for large campaign donations. From now through Election Day, when voters will approve or reject the latest expansion of the state's domestic-partnership law, donations from companies and individuals will be limited to $5,000 each. Full Story from the Seattle Times: http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/localnews/2010057920_webref71money14.html

Planning to marry your partner? Click here for gay marriage resources in Washington State.

To subscribe to this blog, use the rss feed on the right, or use the form at right to join our email list. You can also email us at info@purpleunions.com. Or find us on Facebook - just search for Gay Marriage Watch (you'll see our b/w wedding pic overlooking the Ferry Building and Bay Bridge in SF). We're also tweeting daily at http://www.twitter.com/gaymarriagewatc.

New No on R71 Ad Exposes Religious Bigotry Against Gays

This is not a spoof. This is a real advertisement being run in Washington State by Protect Marriage Washington in an effort to thwart Referendum 71 which provides a comprehensive civil union law. Here we have Adam and Eve (not Steve) portrayed by Ken and Barbie. Presumably, togas were the fashion statement of the day. Adam has a fresh shave and a frat-boy haircut. Eve found a curling iron and other requisites of her do. BTW, at about 20 seconds in, what's with the leaf throwing? It's like an Ed Wood movie incorporating discarded stock footage. Full Story from Tips-Q: http://www.tips-q.com/1451026-worst-anti-gay-advertisement-ever

Planning to marry your partner? Click here for gay marriage resources in Washington State.

To subscribe to this blog, use the rss feed on the right, or use the form at right to join our email list. You can also email us at info@purpleunions.com. Or find us on Facebook - just search for Gay Marriage Watch (you'll see our b/w wedding pic overlooking the Ferry Building and Bay Bridge in SF). We're also tweeting daily at http://www.twitter.com/gaymarriagewatc.