"I am extremely pleased that voters have approved Referendum 71. I signed the original bill and believe it is the right policy for our great state. Washington state has a history of fighting to ensure everyone - mothers, fathers, sons, daughters, brothers, sisters - enjoys equal rights. From the first bill I signed in 2007 to this new law, we have proudly made great strides on behalf of all Washington families."

Let's pray the Reject R-71 effort across the finish line!

Passage of Referendum 71 in Washington state is a victory for fairness and families

"This victory promotes fairness, supports  families, and is good for Washington state and the country. This victory sends the message that no family should be left vulnerable and without basic protections because of someone else's prejudices."

- Rea Carey, Executive Director, National Gay and Lesbian Task Force

WASHINGTON, Nov. 5 - Voters in Washington state have approved Referendum 71, which preserves expanded domestic partner protections for same-sex couples and unmarried senior couples, according to unofficial results. The National Gay and Lesbian Task Force Action Fund committed financial and staff resources contributing to this victory. It supported Washington Families Standing Together with a $10,000 contribution to underwrite the hiring of a statewide field director, provided advice and expertise to develop campaign and field plans, and sent a senior organizer to train the campaign field team.

Statement by Rea Carey, Executive Director, National Gay and Lesbian Task Force

"Passage of Referendum 71 is a victory for fairness and families in Washington state. Voters stood together, listened carefully and rejected the opposition's effort to distort the facts. This victory promotes fairness, supports families, and is good for Washington state and the country. This victory sends the message that no family should be left vulnerable and without basic protections because of someone else's prejudices.

"Washington Families Standing Together ran an excellent campaign to educate and mobilize voters all across the state about the domestic partner law and its protections for the 12,000 residents in registered domestic partnerships and their children. The campaign drove home the point that all families need and deserve fair treatment, especially in times of crisis. Health insurance, pensions, death benefits and family leave to care for a sick loved one were among the benefits made vulnerable by the threat to the domestic partnership law.

"Washington Families Standing Together brought together a broad spectrum of supporters who know that protecting all our families is good for the entire community. The National Gay and Lesbian Task Force congratulates the campaign and thanks all the voters who cast a ballot in favor of equality."

Statement by Josh Friedes, Campaign Manager,
Washington Families Standing Together

"This is a wonderful victory for all those who value fairness and equality. Washingtonians have defended fairness and taken a strong stand for all families. We would not be celebrating this victory if it were not for Washingtonians' commitment to civil rights, our amazing campaign staff, our volunteers, our community and allies, and the support of organizations like the National Gay and Lesbian Task Force. The Task Force spent time with us on the ground to train our campaign field team and contributed financially to help us ensure this victory."

To learn more about the National Gay and Lesbian Task Force, visit www.theTaskForce.org and follow us on Twitter: @TheTaskForce
(http://www.twitter.com/theTaskForce).

And on a personal note, it was a true pleasure to meet Rea at the No On 1 gathering the other evening! :)
Washington Families Standing Together, the organization behind the Approve 71 campaign

Voters affirming domestic partnerships for gay and lesbian families

Dear Friend,

It was just September 2nd that Referendum 71 qualified for the ballot.  In that short period of time, supporters like you put in what seems like several lifetimes of work - pledging your vote to approve 71, writing letters to the editor, donating generously and often, phone banking, canvassing, distributing literature, changing your Facebook picture to include the Approve 71 logo, bringing in cookies, answering the phone, changing your voice mail message and email signature, waving signs on overpasses and giving us your encouragement every step of the way.

Because of you, Washington will soon become the first state in the nation to affirmatively vote to support domestic partnership benefits. We will have to patiently wait for final returns as ballots arrive at county elections offices over the next few days. About 50,000 ballots were tabulated in King County's 4:30 pm count today, leaving just under 300,000 or so for King County still to count based on their projected turnout. For the ballots counted by King County today, Approve was 70%.  Tens of thousands of votes are still remaining to be counted in other counties where Referendum 71 is winning.

These results will be a win not just for the couples and families, but for all Washingtonians who believe in fairness and equality.

Together we built a broad coalition of over 280 non-profit allies, labor unions and associations, 150 members of clergy, and 50 congregations and Faith organizations, small businesses and large employers such as Nike, Starbucks, Google, Microsoft, and Group Health, and newspapers across the state spoke eloquently in support of Referendum 71.

There is simply no way we could have done it without you. To everybody involved with the Approve 71 campaign, a very heartfelt THANK YOU!

Anne Levinson
Approve 71 Campaign Chair

Josh Friedes
Approve 71 Campaign Manager