Some Good News from Washington State to Our Friends in Maine

Daily Kos Staff

Wednesday November 04, 2009 · 6:00 PM PST

2009/11/04 · 18:00

As archerhouse diairies, while it's not official yet, affirmation of Washington's "everything but marriage" law seems assured. The disproportionate number of outstanding ballots in the election are from the Seattle area. (Washington's vote by mail system means election day is extended to election week, sometimes month, while we wait for the U.S. mail.)

Seattle P-I columnist Joel Connelly provides additional context:

By affirming rights for same-sex couples, Washington made history for the second time in the long struggle for gay legal equality. In 1978, Seattle became the first city in America to reject a bid to roll back ordinances prohibiting housing and job discrimination against gays and lesbians.

R-71 affirms the expanded protections for domestic partners granted by Washington State lawmakers last year. It's not full-fledged marriage, but it does mark Washington as the first state in America to approve a gay-equality measure by the will of the people. I know it's small comfort to everyone who worked so tirelessly to defeat hate in Maine, but hopefully knowing that there's a corner of the country where hate couldn't prevail with Americans will provide some comfort, and some hope.

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