This news just in. Referendum 71, the measure which would ask voters whether Washington State's comprehensive domestic partnership bill should be approved or rejected has apparently qualified for the November 3, 2009 ballot, with 121,486 valid signatures, 909 more than needed.Washington State's domestic partnership law was just expanded this summer to be similar to California's AB 205, and is, in effect, an "everything but marriage" law.
The news that Referendum 71 has apparently qualified was not surprising, although there are several legal challenges and controversies ahead. Washington Families Standing Together has filed a lawsuit challenging the procedures used by the Seretary of State to validate signatures. There are also lawsuits going on as to whether the names of those who signed petitions to qualify Referendum 71 will have their names made public; the names of the donors to the heterosexual supremacist group Protect Marriage Washington are public, despite protestations from the supremacists that their supporters could face intimidation and violence if their names were made public.
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We really need your help NOW to preserve the domestic partnership law! Please DONATE to Washington Families Standing Together (WAFST.org) or sign up to volunteer if you're in WA. Ref. 71 will ask voters to reject or accept the domestic partnership law, so tell everyone you know to vote "APPROVED" on Ref. 71.
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