Comments on: Election 2012: Marriage-equality Referendum 74 passes, county readies for marriage-license issuing http://westseattleblog.com/2012/11/election-2012-marriage-equality-referendum-74-passes-county-readies-for-marriage-license-issuing West Seattle news, information, and discussion, updated multiple times daily, 24/7/365 Wed, 19 Jun 2013 22:30:37 +0200 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.4.2 By: Russ Daly http://westseattleblog.com/2012/11/election-2012-marriage-equality-referendum-74-passes-county-readies-for-marriage-license-issuing#comment-927689 Russ Daly Sat, 10 Nov 2012 15:54:11 +0000 http://westseattleblog.com/?p=129075#comment-927689 My husband and I are not only celebrating our first anniversary -- married 11-11-11 in Des Moines, IA -- but we are also celebrating your victory in promoting marriage equality. Our year of married has been so very joyous and we look forward to many, many years together. May every couple who is ready to make that commitment have their union be blessed as much as ours has been. My husband and I are not only celebrating our first anniversary — married 11-11-11 in Des Moines, IA — but we are also celebrating your victory in promoting marriage equality. Our year of married has been so very joyous and we look forward to many, many years together. May every couple who is ready to make that commitment have their union be blessed as much as ours has been.

]]> By: Rob http://westseattleblog.com/2012/11/election-2012-marriage-equality-referendum-74-passes-county-readies-for-marriage-license-issuing#comment-927127 Rob Thu, 08 Nov 2012 21:24:10 +0000 http://westseattleblog.com/?p=129075#comment-927127 Hey, Ex-Westwood Resident, thank you for your support of my civil rights. Nothing you've written indicates that you're anything other than a good, fellow citizen, and your concerns are logical. Let's look at them: (1) Referendum 74 protects churches and other religious organizations from having to perform any act that violates their faith. Period. And that's exactly as it should be. (2) If a private entity refuses to provide a service to a gay person that is being provided to the general public (restaurant, department store, gas station, apartment rentals, wedding services, landscaping, auto repair, medical services . . . well, you get the idea . . . they will run afoul of Washington State's anti-discrimination law. That's already true whether or not Referendum 74 passes. That, too, is exactly as it should be. If I object to serving one minority segment of the general public, the answer isn't to discriminate against that minority group. The answer is for me to either cope with my bias or to find another line of work that doesn't put me in such a bind. I wish you'd examine the problem of "separate but equal" rights. I've had my status as a domestic partner questioned by several organizations (including my own family members!) where my status as a married person would not be. Culture trumps idealism. It would be nice if they were really equal, but in reality domestic partnerships don't come close to measuring up to marriage in our culture's eyes. Seriously, Ex-Westwood Resident, thank you for your thoughtful, sincere support of equality for all citizens. I really, really do appreciate it and I'm glad to share Washington State residency with you! Hey, Ex-Westwood Resident, thank you for your support of my civil rights. Nothing you’ve written indicates that you’re anything other than a good, fellow citizen, and your concerns are logical. Let’s look at them: (1) Referendum 74 protects churches and other religious organizations from having to perform any act that violates their faith. Period. And that’s exactly as it should be. (2) If a private entity refuses to provide a service to a gay person that is being provided to the general public (restaurant, department store, gas station, apartment rentals, wedding services, landscaping, auto repair, medical services . . . well, you get the idea . . . they will run afoul of Washington State’s anti-discrimination law. That’s already true whether or not Referendum 74 passes. That, too, is exactly as it should be. If I object to serving one minority segment of the general public, the answer isn’t to discriminate against that minority group. The answer is for me to either cope with my bias or to find another line of work that doesn’t put me in such a bind.

I wish you’d examine the problem of “separate but equal” rights. I’ve had my status as a domestic partner questioned by several organizations (including my own family members!) where my status as a married person would not be. Culture trumps idealism. It would be nice if they were really equal, but in reality domestic partnerships don’t come close to measuring up to marriage in our culture’s eyes.

Seriously, Ex-Westwood Resident, thank you for your thoughtful, sincere support of equality for all citizens. I really, really do appreciate it and I’m glad to share Washington State residency with you!

]]> By: Ex-Westwood Resident http://westseattleblog.com/2012/11/election-2012-marriage-equality-referendum-74-passes-county-readies-for-marriage-license-issuing#comment-927081 Ex-Westwood Resident Thu, 08 Nov 2012 18:51:39 +0000 http://westseattleblog.com/?p=129075#comment-927081 Congratulations!! Although I didn't support R-74, <strong>I FULLY support the issue that "gay" couples should have the SAME and EVERY RIGHT as "straight" couples.</strong> My lack of support was more on along the line of what will happen when the first church/religion refuses to marry a gay couple, or a private entity refuses to provide a service because they are personally and morally against gay marraige??? Will the church be sued??? Will the person be sued??? Will churches/religions/businesses be forced to cunduct and provide services if they are morally and ethically against gay marriage. And before I get the "Your a HOMOPHOBE/HATER/BIGOT responses" I FULLY supported Washington's "The Same as Marriage" act passed by the State Legislature and signed by the Gov. Congratulations!!
Although I didn’t support R-74, I FULLY support the issue that “gay” couples should have the SAME and EVERY RIGHT as “straight” couples.
My lack of support was more on along the line of what will happen when the first church/religion refuses to marry a gay couple, or a private entity refuses to provide a service because they are personally and morally against gay marraige???
Will the church be sued??? Will the person be sued??? Will churches/religions/businesses be forced to cunduct and provide services if they are morally and ethically against gay marriage.
And before I get the “Your a HOMOPHOBE/HATER/BIGOT responses” I FULLY supported Washington’s “The Same as Marriage” act passed by the State Legislature and signed by the Gov.

]]> By: Mercedes http://westseattleblog.com/2012/11/election-2012-marriage-equality-referendum-74-passes-county-readies-for-marriage-license-issuing#comment-927068 Mercedes Thu, 08 Nov 2012 18:19:42 +0000 http://westseattleblog.com/?p=129075#comment-927068 need to send some of the love to cali need to send some of the love to cali

]]> By: Lee http://westseattleblog.com/2012/11/election-2012-marriage-equality-referendum-74-passes-county-readies-for-marriage-license-issuing#comment-927050 Lee Thu, 08 Nov 2012 17:40:39 +0000 http://westseattleblog.com/?p=129075#comment-927050 I lived to see it! In the 1950's my mother told me there was no such things as boys marrying boys and girls marrying girls. Only boys could marry girls. If she were alive today I wonder what she would say. I lived to see it! In the 1950′s my mother told me there was no such things as boys marrying boys and girls marrying girls. Only boys could marry girls. If she were alive today I wonder what she would say.

]]> By: Jean http://westseattleblog.com/2012/11/election-2012-marriage-equality-referendum-74-passes-county-readies-for-marriage-license-issuing#comment-927047 Jean Thu, 08 Nov 2012 17:32:50 +0000 http://westseattleblog.com/?p=129075#comment-927047 Reading this from AZ, I feel proud and very fortunate to be from Washington. We did the right thing finally. Reading this from AZ, I feel proud and very fortunate to be from Washington. We did the right thing finally.

]]> By: Brandon http://westseattleblog.com/2012/11/election-2012-marriage-equality-referendum-74-passes-county-readies-for-marriage-license-issuing#comment-926992 Brandon Thu, 08 Nov 2012 14:28:21 +0000 http://westseattleblog.com/?p=129075#comment-926992 Congrats to those who can now get married, My wife and I have been married for just over a year and I couldn't imagine life without her and I couldn't imagine if someone told me I couldn't have married her. Yay Equality!!! Congrats to those who can now get married, My wife and I have been married for just over a year and I couldn’t imagine life without her and I couldn’t imagine if someone told me I couldn’t have married her. Yay Equality!!!

]]> By: Kat http://westseattleblog.com/2012/11/election-2012-marriage-equality-referendum-74-passes-county-readies-for-marriage-license-issuing#comment-926886 Kat Thu, 08 Nov 2012 07:35:28 +0000 http://westseattleblog.com/?p=129075#comment-926886 Im so proud to live in a state where the majority supports equality! If ALL people are not equal, we are all second class citizens! For my bible quoting/judgement passing friends and family... You are the minority now and I believe God is proud of the love and acceptance we showed to all people this election! Im so proud to live in a state where the majority supports equality! If ALL people are not equal, we are all second class citizens! For my bible quoting/judgement passing friends and family… You are the minority now and I believe God is proud of the love and acceptance we showed to all people this election!

]]> By: Ajax http://westseattleblog.com/2012/11/election-2012-marriage-equality-referendum-74-passes-county-readies-for-marriage-license-issuing#comment-926883 Ajax Thu, 08 Nov 2012 07:28:30 +0000 http://westseattleblog.com/?p=129075#comment-926883 It infuriates and frustrates me that LGBT couples have to have their relationships put up to a vote to be "approved" by the public. That said, as someone who lived most of their life in a deeply red state where marriage equality would have never passed a popular vote, I am extremely proud to be a citizen of a state where the majority recognizes that consenting adults wanting to participate in the institution of marriage is not something that hurts anyone in any way. It infuriates and frustrates me that LGBT couples have to have their relationships put up to a vote to be “approved” by the public. That said, as someone who lived most of their life in a deeply red state where marriage equality would have never passed a popular vote, I am extremely proud to be a citizen of a state where the majority recognizes that consenting adults wanting to participate in the institution of marriage is not something that hurts anyone in any way.

]]> By: EET http://westseattleblog.com/2012/11/election-2012-marriage-equality-referendum-74-passes-county-readies-for-marriage-license-issuing#comment-926868 EET Thu, 08 Nov 2012 07:09:05 +0000 http://westseattleblog.com/?p=129075#comment-926868 It's amazing to know that i can witness the marriage of my dad and his partner of 15+ years.....their love is unbreakable and something i want to find in my own life. congrats to all!!! It’s amazing to know that i can witness the marriage of my dad and his partner of 15+ years…..their love is unbreakable and something i want to find in my own life. congrats to all!!!

]]> By: Kelly http://westseattleblog.com/2012/11/election-2012-marriage-equality-referendum-74-passes-county-readies-for-marriage-license-issuing#comment-926855 Kelly Thu, 08 Nov 2012 06:49:07 +0000 http://westseattleblog.com/?p=129075#comment-926855 Congrats to all my West Seattle friends & neighbors--I can't wait to see your engagement/wedding announcements on the WSBlog! Congrats to all my West Seattle friends & neighbors–I can’t wait to see your engagement/wedding announcements on the WSBlog!

]]> By: scout 1 http://westseattleblog.com/2012/11/election-2012-marriage-equality-referendum-74-passes-county-readies-for-marriage-license-issuing#comment-926850 scout 1 Thu, 08 Nov 2012 06:24:46 +0000 http://westseattleblog.com/?p=129075#comment-926850 There are still alot of votes to be counted. I am hoping it does not get any closer! There are still alot of votes to be counted. I am hoping it does not get any closer!

]]> By: evergreen http://westseattleblog.com/2012/11/election-2012-marriage-equality-referendum-74-passes-county-readies-for-marriage-license-issuing#comment-926840 evergreen Thu, 08 Nov 2012 06:01:45 +0000 http://westseattleblog.com/?p=129075#comment-926840 This is a civil rights issue, and it's great to see the country moving in a more positive direction. The strength of the U.S. is in our diversity. Time to embrace it and ensure equal rights for all of our citizens. This is a civil rights issue, and it’s great to see the country moving in a more positive direction. The strength of the U.S. is in our diversity. Time to embrace it and ensure equal rights for all of our citizens.

]]> By: Greenwick http://westseattleblog.com/2012/11/election-2012-marriage-equality-referendum-74-passes-county-readies-for-marriage-license-issuing#comment-926826 Greenwick Thu, 08 Nov 2012 05:29:10 +0000 http://westseattleblog.com/?p=129075#comment-926826 We have other problems to worry about, yes, but I think this is worthy of celebrating, a cause worth fighting for. We have to support the fights for marriage equality across the US. We also need to fight for employment and housing rights, and we must work to improve the lives of POC, both within the queer community and without. But I will pause to celebrate here. We have other problems to worry about, yes, but I think this is worthy of celebrating, a cause worth fighting for. We have to support the fights for marriage equality across the US. We also need to fight for employment and housing rights, and we must work to improve the lives of POC, both within the queer community and without. But I will pause to celebrate here.

]]> By: tlf http://westseattleblog.com/2012/11/election-2012-marriage-equality-referendum-74-passes-county-readies-for-marriage-license-issuing#comment-926823 tlf Thu, 08 Nov 2012 05:16:43 +0000 http://westseattleblog.com/?p=129075#comment-926823 Thank you voters of Washington. My partner and I of 19 years took advantage of the "Everything but Marriage" law. We will also take advantage of R74 too. For those who reduce this to the sexual aspect; I can assure you that after this many years, it's not even the first of many reasons why I love my partner. If you can answer who would you want by your side in health, illness, happiness, sadness, joy..etc., and it's your partner, that's what marriage is about. You can't imagine life without them. While I never liked what should be our constitutional rights put to a vote, it's the way it is. Until it's passed by the federal government we still have work to do. Have you done the combined tax returns? It cost quite a bit and it was difficult to find an accountant that would take the time to process them, something I've always done myself. In any event, this does prove love eventually wins out. I'm appreciative. I'm happy, I feel included in my own state. Now let's make it our country! Thank you voters of Washington. My partner and I of 19 years took advantage of the “Everything but Marriage” law. We will also take advantage of R74 too. For those who reduce this to the sexual aspect; I can assure you that after this many years, it’s not even the first of many reasons why I love my partner. If you can answer who would you want by your side in health, illness, happiness, sadness, joy..etc., and it’s your partner, that’s what marriage is about. You can’t imagine life without them. While I never liked what should be our constitutional rights put to a vote, it’s the way it is. Until it’s passed by the federal government we still have work to do. Have you done the combined tax returns? It cost quite a bit and it was difficult to find an accountant that would take the time to process them, something I’ve always done myself. In any event, this does prove love eventually wins out. I’m appreciative. I’m happy, I feel included in my own state. Now let’s make it our country!

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