Spokane7
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November 5, 2009 in City
Domestic partnership measure approved by voters
OLYMPIA — 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.”
“I’m relieved,” he said. “I was very concerned that if the voters had said no, it would have been a major setback for gay and lesbian families in Washington state.”
The measure asked voters to approve or reject the latest expansion of the state’s domestic partnership law, granting registered domestic partners additional state rights previously given only to married couples.
Full-fledged gay marriage is still not allowed under Washington law.
Gary Randall of Protect Marriage Washington, which opposed the law and pushed to get the referendum on the ballot, said they weren’t ready to concede.
“We’re just going to wait and watch it play out,” he said.
Randall said that while they’re waiting until all the votes are counted, “going in, we knew that we had a pretty tough task ahead of us.”
“We knew there was a chance we would not prevail,” he said.
Two national gay rights groups — the National Gay and Lesbian Task Force and the Family Equality Council — say that voter approval of such a measure was a first. Gay equality laws in other states, ranging from civil rights to gay marriage, have either been implemented by the courts or legislative process. Voters have rejected gay marriage 31 states, most recently in Maine, where voters repealed a gay marriage law on Tuesday.
“Our state made history today,” said Anne Levinson, chairwoman of Washington Families Standing Together, which fought to keep the law on the books. “This is a day for which we can all look back with pride.”
The expanded law in Washington state adds benefits, such as the right to use sick leave to care for a domestic partner, and rights related to adoption, child custody and child support.
During the campaign, opponents argued the law is a stepping-stone to gay marriage. Gay rights activists countered that while the marriage debate was for another day, same-sex couples need additional legal protections and rights in the meantime.
The law was to take effect July 26, but was delayed because of the referendum campaign. It will now take effect Dec. 3, according to the secretary of state’s office.
The underlying domestic partnership law, which the Legislature passed in 2007, provided hospital visitation rights, the ability to authorize autopsies and organ donations, and inheritance rights when there is no will.
Last year, lawmakers expanded the law to give domestic partners standing under laws covering probate and trusts, community property and guardianship.
More than 12,000 people in Washington state are registered as domestic partners, and most are gay. Under state law, senior heterosexual couples can register as domestic partners as well, if at least one partner is 62 years old or older. That provision was included by lawmakers to help seniors who don’t remarry out of fear they could lose certain pension or social security benefits.
Washington state, along with California, Oregon, New Jersey, and the District of Columbia, have laws that either recognize civil unions or domestic partnerships that afford same-sex couples similar rights to marriage.
Same-sex marriage is legal in Massachusetts, Connecticut, Iowa and Vermont, and will start in New Hampshire in January. Voters in Maine on Tuesday repealed a gay marriage law that was passed by the Legislature there earlier this year.
Gov. Chris Gregoire said that the vote on R-71 made her “very proud.”
“I think Washington state stood out in this country on Tuesday by saying one of the inherent values in our state is equality,” she said Thursday.
Results weren’t known until Thursday because almost all voters in Washington cast their ballots by mail, and even those ballots postmarked on Election Day are valid. That means close elections often drag on for a few days or longer.
© Copyright 2009 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
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spokanada on November 05 at 5:15 p.m.
congrats! It’s about time!
SugarShane on November 05 at 5:54 p.m.
Verry good Washington!
BBLANCH on November 05 at 7:17 p.m.
AM A SENIOR. FING A
skooshbee on November 05 at 8:08 p.m.
Yeah!! It’s about time everyone has the same rights!! Way to go Washington! 2 thumbs up!!
Rifleman__Dodd on November 05 at 8:24 p.m.
This was kind of a stupid thing. The Supreme Court should have ruled on this a long long time ago.
Civil rights applies to EVERYONE. Those who voted against it probably didnt stay awake in that class where they taught the pledge of allegeniance. You know the part..” With Liberty and Justice for ALL.”
Its a sad day when he have to legislate the rights guaranted by the Constitution.
spokanecougar on November 05 at 9:15 p.m.
I am so glad that this passed, but I am so ashamed to live in a county that has so many people that are against giving people equal rights. Those that voted against this are not against gay marriage, because this had nothing to do with marriage, this was about granting basic rights to people - gay or straight. People that voted against this are just pure bigots who are no better then those against civil rights. People that voted against this just hate gay people, pure and simple and do not wish them to have the same rights as everyone else. Face it, you know its true, it was never about gay marriage, it has always been about your hatred of gay people.
cme on November 06 at 12:01 a.m.
I’m surprised there are no negative comments on this, considering Spokane Co voted 60% “against” & Lincoln Co voted 74% “against”. In fact everybody in eastern-wa voted “against” if you watch the TV-news & read the Seattle Times.
But rather than focusing on the eastern-wa numbers which voted overwhelmingly against, focus on the numbers who live here & voted “for” this initiative. 40% & 26% “FOR” IN Spokane & Lincoln counties. –-which was all that was needed to get the measure to pass.
If it wasn’t for those very small percentages in eastern-wa voting for this, it never would have passed the State election.
Yes, sometimes, the minority can win. Yes, sometimes their vote is VERY important.
HappyHeathen on November 06 at 12:48 a.m.
This is great. As a senior citizen I never though we would see this. All families are important. The way it should be.
Lurleen on November 06 at 9:08 a.m.
If you look at the voting history of each county for the failed I-677 from 1997 (would have created a law prohibiting employment discrimination based on sexual orientation), you can see that R-71 wasn’t just a big win in the Puget Sound counties but across the state. With only one exception, every single county increased their “yes” vote percentage from I-677 to R-71. Some counties like San Juan were astounding, increasing pro-equality vote support by 35 points. Remember, not even King Co. passed I-677 back in ‘97. R-71 is a big win for all of Washington, and the state as a whole is moving forward on matters of fairness and equality. Proud to be a Washingtonian!
southie4573 on November 07 at 5:09 p.m.
i am so proud to live in WA state!
calvinandhobbes on November 10 at 11:33 a.m.
I find the passing of R-71 repulsive in the highest degree. the Bible (KJV) says in Lev 20:13
” If a man also lie with mankind, as he lieth with a woman, both of them have committed an abomination: they shall surely be put to death; their blood shall be upon them.”
in the Bible times the sin of sodomy now know as homosexuallity,was a crime always punished by death. God himself says that it was and still is an abomination!
southie4573 on November 11 at 1:18 p.m.
Calvinandhobbes (btw - it is hard to take anyone by that name seriously) - get over it dude!
Equality wins out! - if you hate Washington State -please leave!
calvinandhobbes on November 11 at 2:16 p.m.
Who says that i hate Washington?!?!?!?!?!?!?!? i’ve been born and bred in washington. i have the best interests of the state at interest!