Seattle Gay News - Mobile Edition - The push - new coalition forms: Washington United for Marriage - The push - new coalition forms: Washington United for Marriage - Friday, November 18, 2011

The push - new coalition forms: Washington United for Marriage

Seattle Gay News
Mobile Edition
rss: SGN Calendar For Mobile Phones http://sgn.org/rssCalendarMobile.xml

SGN Mobile Front Page

SGN ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT SECTION

MOVIE REVIEWS
CALENDAR
NORTHWEST NEWS CALENDAR
CLASSIFIED

click here to go to the main SGN website

posted Friday, November 18, 2011 - Volume 39 Issue 46

The push - new coalition forms: Washington United for Marriage
by Shaun Knittel - SGN Associate Editor

Washington United for Marriage, a broad coalition of Washington state organizations coming together in support of the freedom to marry for all, officially announced its formation and a new effort to make civil marriage for all Washingtonians a priority in 2012 at a November 14 press conference in Bellevue at the Highland Community Center.

Rod Hearne, executive director of Equal Rights Washington (ERW), announced the campaign 'to protect all families in Washington.' Hearne was flanked by several members of the coalition, including Josh Friedes, ERW's marriage equality director, and two couples - one legally married and one not.

The unmarried couple, Jessica Simpson and Nancy Wood, who are registered as domestic partners in Washington state, spoke to the crowd of supporters and members of the local media. The two professionals spoke of their love for each other and their wish to refer to each other as 'wife' instead of 'partner.' They were joined by their children, ages 7 and 4. Although state-recognized marriage would help protect their family, the domestic partners said that, while they are thankful for the protections they have due to the passage of Referendum 71 in 2009, they deserve the right to get married just like anyone else.

The married couple, Marc and Jennifer Eisner, advocate for Gay marriage. Marc told the media that his mother is a Lesbian and a schoolteacher. His mother has remained in a committed relationship with her partner for a number of years and, along with other LGBT family members, he supports the right to marriage, regardless of sexual orientation.

Lacey All, an advocate whose work with the Human Rights Campaign (HRC) centers on board development, major gift and event fundraising, and workplace advocacy and equality work, told the audience that now is the time in Washington to work toward securing same-sex marriage and announced the governing members of the coalition.

The coalition's leading organizations include the American Civil Liberties Union of Washington, a nonprofit, nonpartisan membership organization devoted to protecting the civil liberties of all people in America and extending rights to groups that historically have been denied equal treatment; ERW, a statewide political advocacy organization that works to ensure and promote dignity, safety, and equality for LGBT individuals and families in Washington state; HRC, America's largest civil rights organization working to achieve LGBT equality; Legal Voice, a nonprofit women's rights organization that pursues justice for women and girls in the Northwest through groundbreaking litigation, legislative and administrative advocacy, and educational tools to help individuals understand their legal rights; and Planned Parenthood Votes Northwest, an independent, nonprofit, nonpartisan organization educating Alaska, Idaho, and Washington state residents and policy-makers about reproductive health issues.

Locally, a large coalition including Ingersoll Gender Center, Greater Seattle Business Association, PFLAG-Washington Council, UFCW 21, Entre Hermanos, the Seattle Gay News, and many more are on record as supporting organizations.

Washington United for Marriage officials invited the Rev. Dr. Peter Strimer, of St. Andrew's Episcopal Church, to explain that if same-sex marriages are legalized in Washington state, churches still would not be required to perform them, but Gay couples who marry in civil ceremonies would be recognized by the state.

Understanding that there are many questions that supporters may have, Washington United for Marriage officials have scheduled a number of community meetings statewide. The Seattle meeting is scheduled for November 20, 3-8 p.m., at Saint Mark's Cathedral, Bloedel Hall (1245 10th Ave. E.).

Meetings have already been conducted in Tacoma, Puyallup, Lakewood, Gig Harbor, and Vancouver, Washington. Still on the list are Bellevue, Tri-Cities, Spokane, and Bellingham.

Washington United for Marriage is a coalition of organizations, congregations, unions, and businesses working together to secure civil marriage for living, committed Gay and Lesbian couples. For more information on the coalition, visit www.washingtonunitedformarriage.org.

HISTORIC EFFORT
Equal Rights Washington (ERW), the state's largest LGBT advocacy organization, played a pivotal role in forming the Washington United for Marriage coalition.

ERW has a network of over 50,000 advocates statewide. Working together, the organization has achieved a variety of major successes, including the passage of the Anderson-Murray Anti-Discrimination Law, three domestic partnership laws, anti-bullying legislation, and bills to protect Transgender Washingtonians.

'Over the last several years, we've been engaging successfully in advocacy, lobbying for legislation, coalition building, educating the public, media, and opinion leaders about the importance of marriage equality and what it could mean for the lives of LGBT families,' ERW officials wrote in a letter to supporters. 'The results of our collective efforts have been fantastic and brought us to this day. We believe securing marriage equality in 2012 is an achievable goal. And it is time.'

'This means passing a bill in the Legislature and being prepared to defend the law on the November 2012 ballot,' continued officials. 'Nevertheless, just because marriage equality is possible doesn't mean it's guaranteed. We'll need to pull together as a community like never before to make this happen.'

'We are committed to growing a vast coalition of local organizations, unions, communities of faith, and businesses working together to secure civil marriage for loving, committed Gay and Lesbian couples,' said ERW officials. 'By working together under the banner of Washington United for Marriage, we will make our voice all the more powerful.'

'We are ever aware that marriage equality is not synonymous with full equality for LGBT individuals and families. But it's yet another incredibly important step in the right direction,' continued ERW officials Rod Hearne, Josh Friedes, and Operations Manager Doug Hamilton. 'We are excited about the road ahead. We come from all walks of life. We are LGBT and allies. We are people of faith and secularists. We are union members and business owners. We are old and young. Above all, we are unified in our shared belief that it is wrong to deny loving, committed people the freedom to marry.'

THE POLITICS OF MARRIAGE
Immediately following the November 14 announcement for same-sex marriage in Washington state in 2012, politicians began to weigh in on the subject.

King County Executive Dow Constantine applauded the kickoff of the Washington United for Marriage effort. 'Now is the time to take action, to finally recognize the equality and protect the rights of all people of Washington,' he said in a statement to the media. 'I will work in whatever capacity I can to see this legislation passed in Olympia, or if necessary at the ballot box, and look forward to the day I can sign marriage certificates for all adult couples in King County.'

State Senator Ed Murray (D-Seattle), a Gay lawmaker from the 43rd district and leader on the legislative battle to secure same-sex marriage in Washington, said he believes 2012 is the 'best chance we've ever had to make marriage equality a reality.'

'Today our long-held goal of reaching marriage equality for Gay and Lesbian couples is closer than ever, and I intend to do all I can to see us pass an equality bill in the Legislature,' Sen. Murray told Seattle Gay News. 'For all the work I and other Gay and Lesbian lawmakers have done to advance the cause of equality, however, it's the people in our communities who have made the real difference.'

'I commend Washington United for Marriage for its efforts to give a voice to people across our state who share our values,' he said. 'Ultimately, it will be families talking to families that brings us to our goal.' Although Senator Murray and Representative Jamie Pedersen - an openly Gay lawmaker in the House - were not present at the Washington United for Marriage press conference, Pedersen told Seattle Gay News that the two lawmakers and LGBT leaders have been working closely with the campaign and are pleased with its formation - referring to it as 'critical.'

Democrats hold a 27-22 majority in the state Senate and a 56-42 advantage in the House. In the past, some conservative Democrats in the Senate have voted with Republicans against extending rights to same-sex couples. That means some Gay-rights supporters will have to sway some suburban Republicans to their cause - a win using just Democrats is not, at this time, possible.

In addition, there is no guarantee that lawmakers will take up the controversial subject in the middle of the state's budget woes.

Democratic gubernatorial candidate Jay Inslee supports an effort to allow civil marriage for same-sex couples in Washington state.

Inslee spokeswoman Jaime Smith said that the U.S. congressman believes 'it is the next logical step.'

Randy Pepple, campaign manager for Republican candidate Rob McKenna, the state's attorney general and Inslee's gubernatorial opponent, said that while McKenna supports the state's current domestic partnership law, he does not support same-sex marriage.

'Rob believes that this is an issue that is going to be decided by the voters,' said Pepple.

If a bill is passed and successfully defended at the ballot box, Washington would become the first state in our nation's history to pass marriage equality by popular vote. Similar attempts across the country have failed.

In Connecticut, Iowa, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, New York, Vermont, and Washington, D.C., same-sex couples can be legally married and receive state-level benefits. New Jersey, Maryland, and Rhode Island do not allow same-sex marriages, but do recognize those performed in other jurisdictions.

The push - new coalition forms: Washington United for Marriage

------------------------------

Tony Radovich honored for his work in HIV prevention

------------------------------

California Supremes say Prop 8 supporters may defend it in court

------------------------------

GSAs in high school benefit health, education of LGBT young adults

------------------------------

Seattle Parks supports, reaches out to LGBTQ teens

------------------------------

MCC Seattle supports LGBT community center

------------------------------