Microsoft Gives $100K for Domestic Partnerships

Tech giant Microsoft is defending domestic partnerships in its headquarters' home state by donating $100,000 to the campaign to keep expanded DP rights on the books. Campaign finance reports filed on Monday show that the company gave the money to Washington Families Standing Together on October 2 in support of Referendum 71, which asks voters to affirm or repeal the expanded domestic-partnership rights passed by the legislature and signed into law by Gov. Christine Gregoire in the spring.

Microsoft, teaming up with several other companies based in the northwest like Boeing and Nike, also issued a joint statement in September to keep domestic-partnership rights intact.

"We embrace everyone's fundamental right to be judged on their merits and contributions rather than factors such as their sexual orientation. Because rejecting the law would stem progress toward that goal, we urge a vote to approve Referendum 71," the statement said.

A poll taken in late September shows that the referendum would barely pass with 51% of voter approval.