Donate today to keep Referendum 71 off the ballot

The next 12 days are critical to protect Washington State's domestic partnership law from potential repeal. Please make a contribution today to Washington Families Standing Together, the statewide campaign working to defeat any attempt to roll-back domestic partnership rights.


WAFST UPDATE: On May 18, Governor Gregoire signed the Domestic Partnership expansion bill of 2009. Before the ink was dry, a group of ultra-conservative organizations under the name Protect Marriage Washington, together with several conservative legislators opposed to providing gay and lesbian families with equal protection under the law, filed proposed Referendum 71 to repeal the law.


To qualify Referendum 71 for the November ballot, they must submit 120,577 valid signatures by July 25th. They now claim to have collected over 75,000 signatures and contend that they are on target to qualify the referendum for the November ballot.


The Catholic Conference, the official lobbying arm of the Catholic Church, has announced its support of the repeal effort, and the Knights of Columbus has said that they are now gathering signatures. Because experience shows that most signatures are collected during the last two weeks of a campaign, we do not have the luxury of sitting back and waiting to see what happens. We need you to rise to the challenge by contributing to WAFST today.


Who is collecting signatures to take away rights from Washington families?


The groups and individuals below are working together under the name of Protect Marriage Washington:

Washington Eagle Forum, Antioch Bible Church, Washington Values Alliance, Faith and Freedom Network, Christian Coalition, YWAM & US Renewal, Family Policy Institute of Washington, Eastern Washington Advisory Board to the FPIW, Facts for Freedom, Washington Opposed to Pro-Homosexual Policies, Concerned Citizens of Pierce County, Council 1379 of the Knights of Columbus, The Reagan Wing, The Constitution Party of Washington State, Concerned Women for America (Washington), Spokane American Family Association, The American Heritage Party of Washington, Senator Dan Swecker, Senator Val Stevens, Representative Matt Shea, Representative Jim McCune, Representative Dan Kristiansen, former State Rep. John Ahern, Dr. Bruce Craswell, Atonement Free Lutheran Church, Rivers of Glory Church, and CityGate Church of Puyallup.


How have individuals and organizations responded to the threat?


Organizations and individuals from all across Washington state came together immediately to form Washington Families Standing Together. Today over 80 groups, from communities of color, faith-based groups, education and children's organizations, labor and others have joined with LGBT and civil rights groups, like the Urban League, One America and the Anti-Defamation League, to save the domestic partnership law and make sure all Washington families have the rights and protections they deserve.


We launched a decline to sign campaign. Tens of thousands of people have taken a stand and declined to sign on line, or at community or family events. Over 300 letters to the editor have been written by supporters of the law urging people to decline to sign referendum 71. Newspapers across the state have urged people to refrain from signing referendum 71 petitions and expressed support for the domestic partnership law which protects many of Washington's most vulnerable families.


The next 12 days provide a unique opportunity to educate Washington voters about:
The important rights provided by the domestic partnership law and what can happen to a family when these rights don’t exist.
The growing base of support for providing families formed by gay and lesbian couples with full legal protection.
The challenges that many Washington families face even with the domestic partnership law because they are denied the right to legal marriage.


Please support the campaign today through a contribution of $25, $50, $100, or $71.


Your involvement in and support of Washington Families Standing Together will be key to our success and vital to defending the safety and security of families throughout the state.


Thank you for your commitment to this effort.


Sincerely,



Vickie Wallen
Finance Committee Chair
Washington Families Standing Together
http://www.wafst.org/