S T A T E M E N T :
Washington State Rep. Jim Moeller, D-Vancouver,
on voter-approval of Referendum 71

 

Friday, Nov. 6, 2009

“Washington voters in this year’s general election showed the promoters of ‘special rights for special pleaders’ the door. By approving Referendum 71, citizens expanded protections for all Washington families and strengthened them at the same time. Today, the law in our state now emphasizes that all families are supported, not just one kind of family.”

“I’m very proud to be a sponsor of the original legislation upheld in the referendum. This is a fair, commonsense policy created for domestic partners and their loved ones. These are folks who simply want to reinforce the legal rights and responsibilities for the loving and committed family they have already created.”

“Actually, it seems to me that this legislation and the referendum are even more about protecting the lives and well-being of families than about respecting the rights and privileges of couples. And yes, providing more security for domestic partners and their families is certainly even more important in these tumultuous economic times. The same securities, rights and responsibilities as anyone else – No more, and no less.”

The Domestic Partnership Registry was created in 2007, and it is open to same-gender couples and senior-citizen couples. The registry is maintained in the state Secretary of State’s office. Adult couples may register as domestic partners if the partners are the same gender. Adult couples may also register as domestic partners if they are different genders and one of them is – or both of them are – at least 62 years old.

NOTE: Referendum 71, as of 9 a.m., Friday, Nov. 6, is receiving just over 52 percent of the “Yes” vote. According to the state Secretary of State’s Web site: “Election results are not final or official until certified. By law, November 24, 2009, is the last day for county canvassing boards to certify results; December 3, 2009, is the last day for the Office of the Secretary of State to certify General Election returns.”

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