On February 13th. WA Governor Christine Gregoire signed the Marriage Equality Act allowing anyone to get married despite their sexual preference. The ink was barely dry before The National Organization for Marriage, (NOM) and others filed the Washington "Definition of Marriage" Initiative seeking to overturn the law was filed. It will be on the November ballot if they are able to get 120,577 signatures by June 6. LINK
Well, guess what.
Proposed Initiatives are filed with the Sec of State but the Atty General gets to write the language.
State Attorney General and Republican candidate for governor has stated that he opposes the law so it's no surprise that he would try to throw a money wrench in the process. Here is the official language he wants on the ballot.
Ballot Title
The legislature passed Engrossed Substitute Senate Bill 6239 concerning marriage [and voters have filed a sufficient referendum petition on this bill.]
This bill would redefine marriage to allow same-sex couples to marry, modify existing domestic-partnership laws, allow clergy to refuse to solemnize or recognize marriages and religious organizations to refuse to accommodate marriage celebrations.
Should this bill be
_ Approved
_ Rejected
Ballot Measure Summary
The bill would redefine marriage to allow same-sex couples to marry, apply marriage eligibility requirements without regard to gender, and specify that laws using gender-specific terms like “husband” and “wife” include same-sex spouses. Clergy could refuse to solemnize or recognize any marriages. Religious organizations and religiously affiliated educational institutions could refuse to accommodate weddings. The measure would not affect licensing of religious organizations providing adoption, foster-care, or child-placement. Domestic partnerships for seniors would be preserved.
Got it? Do you understand it? Do you really know if Approved means you are voting for or against marriage equality?
The ballot language is being challenged (in court) by the non-partisan League of Women Voters of Washington and PFLAG (Parents, Families and Friends of Lesbians and Gays)...(as being) “prejudiced”, “complex” and “confusing.” Seattle PI
Rep. Jay Inslee, your Democratic Candidate for Governor, supports equal marriage and wrote an op-ed supporting the new law. Read the whole article. It's a good one.
We (he and his wife)have had the privilege of being able to say the powerful yet simple statement that "we are married" and receiving all the rights, responsibilities, and recognition that come with being married.
We never lived in fear that our relationship would cause loved ones to shun us, strangers to glare at us, or, as happens too often, predators to bully, harm, or even kill us.
No one deserves that.
Rob McKenna is a Scott Walker clone with an extreme right wing agenda that he is trying to keep under raps. Don't be fooled. Get behind Jay Inslee today.
JayInslee.com,
Send some love ACT BLUE
FACEBOOK