Backers of a state initiative to reverse Washington’s “everything but marriage” domestic partnership law turned in thousands of collected signatures on Saturday in hopes of qualifying Referendum 71 for the November ballot. Here is the bulletin sent out by the Washington Secretary of State’s office this weekend:
Backers of Referendum 71 brought in what they estimate are 138,000 voter signatures on Saturday, hoping to win a November ballot spot for a public vote on the state’s new “everything but marriage” domestic partnership bill. State election crews opened the Secretary of State’s executive offices on Saturday, the deadline for submitting referendum petitions. Several dozen backers and foes attended the turn-in at 3 p.m., which was low-key and without speeches on either side.
Crews counted 9,356 petition sheets, each of which can accommodate up to 20 voter signatures. The Elections Division will have the petitions “imaged” by the state Archives before counting the number of signatures, and could not independently verify the sponsors’ estimate. Crews will begin checking signatures by mid-week. The process could take a week or two.
The only other citizen measure that has been certified to the ballot is Tim Eyman’s Initiative 1033, dealing with revenue caps for state, county and city general funds, and property tax relief.
R-71 would ask voters to either affirm the Legislature’s decision to pass Senate Bill 5688, or to reject it. The law would have taken effect on Sunday had not the referendum been submitted. If R-71 qualifies for the ballot, the law would remain on hold until the election is held and certified. If voters affirm the new law, it would take effect in December. If they measure doesn’t make the ballot, the law would take effect immediately.
The Slog digs into some of the nitty gritty of the signature count to come while the PostGlobe has an e-mail sent out by Josh Friedes, spokesman for pro-gay marriage group, Washington Familes Standing Together.
I’m glad you are standing up for traditional marriage. Can we now put an end to all that interracial, interfaith, and intergenerational marriages, as well?
Why do we insist on arguing this on the terms of these radical right wingers? They do not represent the majority. We do. Let’s call them what they are: extreme right wing bigots who want to impose their own religious views on everyone in the state. Our side will not win unless we stand up and defend ourselves and our communities. This is NOT about religion. It’s about crazy people trying to force their beliefs on people. End of story.
I consider WA state to be my home state, lived there for years and it holds a HUGE part of my heart. I am absolutely disgusted that one of what I consider to be the most liberal states in the country is now being over run by these bigots that use religion to once again impose their distorted beliefs in the name of Jesus Christ onto the GLBT community. My partner and I have been in love for going on 14 years now. We raised two kids together, absolutely and totally in love with each other. What in the world does it matter to these people what we decide for “OUR LIVES”. I am sure that Jesus Christ is absolutely disgusted at what is being used as a weapon to govern the people in his name. The same went for slavery (Good Christians claimed that was the right thing to do back then) years back also. In fact when you review history anything having to do with HUMAN RIGHTS was shot down and distorted by so called good honorable Christians. Well news flash there is nothing Christian like about it. My partner and I attend church every weekend and some days it is hard to associate that word (Christians) with ourselves due to the negative associations with it. I pray not for us but for them that they learn the error of their ways and grow to understand the abusive nature of their ways. I wonder how they would feel if every time they picked up a paper, they had to read about people donating millions to take away their rights (when so many are struggling to eat or live under a dry roof – so Christian like I tell you!) I wonder how they would feel if when they looked over at their neighbors yard and it displayed proudly bigoted political signs opposing their civil rights. I wonder if how they would feel if they had to carefully ask around prior to picking a health care professional to avoid unjust treatment. I wonder how they would feel if they had to explain to their 10 year old daughter why their so called friends parents would not allow them over to play with their best friend. Until you have experienced that kind of fear and prejudice, one could not have a clue! What is bothersome is that they don’t even bother trying!
So if this is the way the law is suppose to work, if I get enough signatures I can take away all marriage for straight as well?
Sign Here !
Last night, smiles were aplenty as friends and neighbors here gathered for a party and discussed the success of the petition-drive. Finally, the “quiet” people have stepped away from the walls and said it’s time for us to be heard on this demand for what amounts to a cultural overhaul in norms and values. Perhaps the so-called progress that began in the ’60s can be slowed. Do I have friends that claim to be homosexual? Yes. Do I respect them as people? Certainly. But do I want to encourage homosexual acts or modeling of those roles in parenting? No. Do I believe that a child is best raised in a home with emotionally healthy mom and dad? Yes. Do I believe Christianity plays a part in morality. You bet. And, I most certainly find nothing wrong with Christian people working to advance Christ-like behavior and morality.
Somehow, we have begun valuing a society where anything that feels good is what’s right. Striving to be a virtuous person is considered old-fashioned. We see the results of secularization and a value-driven rather than moral-driven process in our young people, particularly. I have seen it, firsthand, in university classrooms, where I have taught. The difference in the youth today from the youth of two decades ago is shocking and sad.
The pendulum always swings. Hopefully, it is beginning to move in the opposite direction.
“Last night, smiles were aplenty as friends and neighbors here gathered for a party and discussed the success of the petition-drive.”
I would not count your chickens before the eggs hatch. The number of signatures your group turned in indicated the support you got was underwhelming. Calling it a success is a stretch, at best.
“Somehow, we have begun valuing a society where anything that feels good is what’s right.”
Isn’t that exactly what your group is trying to do? How does same-sex couples having legal protections affect your daily life? What kind of proof do you have that show that straight parents are any better than gay parents? In fact, the divorce rate in heterosexual marriages is ove 50% – I would argue that heterosexual parents can be more harmful to children considering heterosexuals are more likely to have kids.
The reason you would want to do this is because your interpretation of the bible says that in order for you to go to heaven, you have to make gay people a second class citizen under the law and make their lives difficult in anyway you can. In other words, you are doing this because it makes you feel good about dying. How selfish.
“Do I believe Christianity plays a part in morality. You bet.”
Why aren’t you working on other Christian values taught in the bible? Like those values concerning consuming shellfish, selling your daughter into slavery, having sex with a prostitute if your wife can’t bear children, having multiple wives, banning divorce, or banning clothes of mixed fabric?
I also resent the implication that in order to be moral, you have to be a Christian. Well, I see plenty of people calling themselves Christians who are no better than no-Christians in terms of stealing, cheating and committing other crimes. How about the church protecting priest who abuse children? Is that a Christian value?
“And, I most certainly find nothing wrong with Christian people working to advance Christ-like behavior and morality.”
You are so full of yourself you fail to realize that you are nowhere close to advance Christ-like behavior.
“The pendulum always swings.”
Yes, and the people will realize just how crazy and radical your Christian Taliban group is.
I’ve noticed that those so-called Christian groups have sued to keep the names of those who signed R71 private. That just doesn’t sound like the behavior of someone who acted morally. What are you trying to hide?
They’ve also gone a step further filing a protection order so that nothing about the identities of individuals or organizations supporting (or even opposing) the Referendum 71 petition campaign can be identified from the court records that result from the case. They are also trying to hide donations to these same organizations.