Gay partnership measure approved by voters

(Olympia, Wash.) 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 …

Washington state to vote on gay benefits

Voters choose to retain domestic partner benefits or to reverse law passed by state legislature.

WA homophobes oppose finance laws

Opponents to Washington state domestic partnerships filed suit to shield their donors’ names.

WA homophobes oppose finance laws

Opponents to Washington state domestic partnerships filed suit to shield their donors’ names.

Corvino: The work left to do

Less than a week before the election, polls continue to show close races in both Washington State, where voters may substantially expand domestic-partner legislation, and Maine, where they may rescind marriage-equality. We could win in either state (or both)—but we could lose, too.

Win or lose, there’s one truth this campaign …

Court allows release of domestic partner petitions

(Seattle) Washington’s secretary of state can release the names and addresses of people who signed petitions calling for a public vote on the state’s expanded benefits for domestic partners, a federal appeals court said Thursday.

A panel of the 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals reversed a previous decision by U.S. …

Microsoft donates $100 k for gay partners effort

(Olympia, Wash.) Microsoft Corp. has donated $100,000 to the campaign supporting more partnership rights for Washington state gay couples.

That’s the largest single donation in favor of Referendum 71, which asks voters to approve or reject a new law that expands domestic partnerships for gay and lesbian couples. Microsoft is based …

WA judge rejects challenge to vote on gay benefits

(Olympia, Wash) A judge on Tuesday refused to block a proposed ballot initiative on expanded domestic partnership benefits for gay couples in Washington state.

An appeal was considered likely, however, with just a few days remaining before officials need to begin printing materials for the Nov. 3 general election.

The case involves …

Wash. gay partnership foes turn in signatures

(Olympia, Wash) Sponsors of a campaign to overturn Washington state’s domestic partnership law turned in their petition signatures Saturday and said they believe they have enough to force a public vote.

The expanded “everything but marriage” domestic partnership law was scheduled to take effect Sunday, but is now delayed until the …

Wash. gay partnership foes say “too close to call”

OLYMPIA, Wash. —

Washington state’s latest expansion of domestic partnerships for gay couples was hanging in limbo Friday as opponents announced a final push to force a public vote, calling their effort so far “too close to call.”

In a statement to supporters, organizers of the Referendum 71 campaign said they believe they will have at least the minimum 120,577 petition signatures needed by Saturday to qualify for the ballot.

However, R-71 organizer Gary Randall said the campaign doesn’t have enough extra signatures to act as a cushion for erroneous or duplicate petition signatures, which must come from registered Washington voters.

To help meet the deadline, Randall appealed to R-71 supporters to gather additional signatures and drive them to the state Capitol on Saturday afternoon.

“We’re not trying to have a rally or anything,” Randall said later by telephone. “We need the signatures, we truly do.”

The new “everything but marriage” expansion of domestic partnerships is scheduled to take effect Sunday, but the law will be delayed if referendum sponsors turn in their petitions.

See Wash. gay partnership foes say “too close to call”

Seattle Times

* Tags = gay men gay news lesbian news transgender bisexual