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Washington State Votes by Mail to Approve Referendum 74

Dean Jackson,
老澳门开奖结果 of Washington
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October 22, 2012

Election Day is in 15 days and it will be a pivotal moment for LGBT rights. Voters in three states 鈥 Maine, Maryland, and Washington 鈥 have the opportunity to be the first to grant same-sex couples the freedom to marry, and voters in Minnesota can be the first to defeat a hurtful constitutional amendment to ban marriage for same-sex couples.

Washington is a vote-by-mail state and ballots will be in voters鈥 mailboxes this week. Washingtoninans can start sending in their ballots to and secure the freedom to marry for gay and lesbian couples.

鈥淭he ability to marry legally in Washington State would give validity to our relationship that doesn鈥檛 come with a domestic partnership. We are husbands. We live in this state. It is our home. We want the pride of saying we are married at home.鈥 Pastor Darrell Goodwin-Moultry, pictured here with his husband, Pastor Marshan Goodwin-Moultry.

In February of 2012 Washington Governor Chris Gregoire signed SB 6239, an historic bill granting civil marriage to gay and lesbian couples in the state. Opponents of marriage equality collected enough signatures to challenge the bill at the ballot this November. Washington voters must to secure the freedom to marry for gay and lesbian couples.

The reminds us that ballots need to be:

  • Postmarked no later than Election Day; or
  • Returned to a designated ballot drop box by 8 p.m. on Election Day; or
  • Returned in person to your county elections department by 8 p.m. on Election Day.

There are many wonderful opportunities for people both in Washington and elsewhere to get involved with the Approve Referendum 74 campaign before election day. Visit the webpage to get connected. The 老澳门开奖结果 of Washington is helping coordinate outreach. WUM is running phone banks every day both in the afternoon and in the evening; you can make calls even if you鈥檙e not in Washington! Contact field@aclu-wa.org for more information on these and other campaign opportunities.

Learn more about 2012 freedom to marry ballot initiatives: Sign up for breaking news alerts, , and .

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