DP Rights Look Good in Washington

By Neal Broverman

WASHINGTON STATE REF 71 X390 (GETTY) | ADVOCATE.COM

The Approve Ref 71 campaign says final results won't be in until some time today, but things are looking good in Washington as voters have decided to keep intact the state’s latest expansion of domestic-partnership rights.

Washingtonians seem to have narrowly approved Referendum 71 with 51% voting yes and allowing the latest "everything but marriage" domestic-partnership bill to stand. That bill, the state's third iteration of domestic partnership rights, was passed by the legislature this year and signed into law in May by Democratic governor Christine Gregoire.

Now Washington's domestic partners -- both gay and straight -- will be granted new parity in probate and trust laws, community property, and guardianship. Domestic partners already were provided inheritance rights, hospital visitation rights, and the ability to authorize autopsies and organ donations thanks to earlier domestic-partnership bills.

The conservative effort to roll back the latest domestic-partnership bill was justified by the argument that it was setting the stage for same-sex marriage. Another issue to be settled is the effort to release the names of people who signed petitions to get this issue on the ballot. The U.S. Supreme Court has ruled against making those names public for now, as it considers whether to hear the case involving the matter.

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Reader Comments

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Name: Ben
Date posted: 11/4/2009 8:40:10 PM
Hometown: NY

Comment:
Craig, I know this will be a big disappointment for you, and it will cause your twisted fantasies to collapse like a house of cards, but it's the truth: Gay people don't give a fuck about your children.
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Name: Craig
Date posted: 11/4/2009 5:41:45 PM
Hometown: Yakima

Comment:
Incrementalist? That is why we voted no. The Gay agenda is never to stop at what they SAY they want. It is.."It is not enough to be left in peace to do what ever we want. We demand that you agree with us and teach your children that what we do is approved and encouraged by society."
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Name: Kev
Date posted: 11/4/2009 4:36:19 PM
Hometown: Stevenson, WA

Comment:
In looking up the polling results conformed what I suspected. The Skamaniacks of Skamania County rejected the measure 54.31% with 2500 people voting out of 6900 eligible. I always knew where they stood so no real news there. It does explain why I get called to jury duty every year for the last 9 years though. There are very few people in the county who aren't convicted felons lol I am very surprised that Clallaum and Jefferson County approved the measure. Proud of my old stomping grounds.
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Name: Brian
Date posted: 11/4/2009 1:34:21 PM
Hometown: Seattle

Comment:
Maynard you are right, but if you look further, some of those counties percentage wise were closer than you'd think. I grew up in Klickitat County Washington and 40% voted to approve. I may be an optimist...but I call that progress. The best way to educate people in these areas is to be out. My family and friends back home in Goldendale are very supportive.
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Name: Martk
Date posted: 11/4/2009 11:59:54 AM
Hometown: Sacramento

Comment:
Congratulations, Washington State! I think this another indication that the "Marriage or Nothing" movement could have been more successful if it had chosen an incrementalist approach that took a longer view than the "I want what I want right now no matter the cost to other Gay issues and Gay people" attitude of the "Marriage Equality" movement. Mixner can scream all he wants about Gay apartheid, but if I were a South African, I would have to wonder if he paid any attention to what an evil system apartheid was and bears no resemblance to the reality of our situation. Hissy fits and hyperbole are not going to cover up that the people whose salaries are paid by the Marriage Equality movement have no real incentive to make it happen.
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Name: Ian
Date posted: 11/4/2009 10:54:13 AM
Hometown: Guilford VT

Comment:
Mayard. I don't think that that is unusual. Cities, by their nature, usually are more diverse and tend to breed tolerance if not acceptance. The "cities" in Vermont are fairly liberal by comparison to the vast toxic pools of bigotry that are the rural areas. Just my observation. No facts to back it up.
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Name: Mike
Date posted: 11/4/2009 9:30:37 AM
Hometown: Seattle

Comment:
Congrats Washington! It's not quite final, but it's looking good. I'll be happy with even a narrow win.
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Name: Maynard
Date posted: 11/4/2009 9:25:38 AM
Hometown: Spokane WA

Comment:
I am thrilled to that R71 is passing; but when you look at the comparrison map of how the vote went down county by county it shows that 95% of the state voted 'NO' on the mesaure. The only reason that it's passing is the NW corner of the state including King, Kitsap, Snohomish, Skagit, Thurston, Whatcom, Clallam, Jefferson, San Juan, and Island counties are the only counties approving R 71 and those counties are the most populated in the state.
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Name: David
Date posted: 11/4/2009 3:18:17 AM
Hometown: Vancouver, WA

Comment:
I'm so proud of my state! I hope the returns remain positive for the approval of R71. Although it's not total equality, it's a step in the right direction. My partner and I are thrilled.

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