The Christian-Right Position on Marriage Equality is Shifting
Posted on Jul 22, 2009 at 10:31 am
The Seattle Times
July 21, 2009
Conservative evangelical opposition to marriage equality is in disarray in Washington state. Pastor Joseph Fuiten, senior pastor at Cedar Park Assembly of God Church in Bothell, long has been a staunch, articulate voice for conservative Christian values. But his position on what role the church should play on gay rights is shifting, and he's struggling to understand what God wants him to do next. [Link]
July 21, 2009
Conservative evangelical opposition to marriage equality is in disarray in Washington state. Pastor Joseph Fuiten, senior pastor at Cedar Park Assembly of God Church in Bothell, long has been a staunch, articulate voice for conservative Christian values. But his position on what role the church should play on gay rights is shifting, and he's struggling to understand what God wants him to do next. [Link]
Gay rights mean different things to different generations of community
Posted on Jun 27, 2009 at 11:03 am
The Seattle Times
June 27, 2009
Forty years after New York's Stonewall Riots launched the gay-rights movement, older gays and younger ones share much the same agenda of equality. But their needs within the movement are also divergent. Young people, who have at times referred to their own post-gay movement, seek the protections of marriage equality as they form relationships and start families, while gays of their grandparents' generation are more concerned about issues of aging — like survivor benefits and long-term care. This weekend, across the country and around the world — including here in Seattle on Sunday — they will join together, young and old, lesbians, gays, bisexual and transgender people to mark the anniversary of Stonewall. [Link]
June 27, 2009
Forty years after New York's Stonewall Riots launched the gay-rights movement, older gays and younger ones share much the same agenda of equality. But their needs within the movement are also divergent. Young people, who have at times referred to their own post-gay movement, seek the protections of marriage equality as they form relationships and start families, while gays of their grandparents' generation are more concerned about issues of aging — like survivor benefits and long-term care. This weekend, across the country and around the world — including here in Seattle on Sunday — they will join together, young and old, lesbians, gays, bisexual and transgender people to mark the anniversary of Stonewall. [Link]
Withhold signatures on Referendum 71
Posted on Jun 17, 2009 at 04:55 pm
The Seattle Times
June 16, 2009
WASHINGTON voters have every good reason to ignore signature gatherers who seek to block an expansion of rights for registered domestic partners. The legislation, Senate Bill 5688, is fundamentally about gay and lesbian couples and their families living within the framework of the law, with all its practical realities and complexities. These are adults in committed relationships, raising children, running businesses and owning property. They have real estate, pensions and sick leave, and child-custody issues that are part of the work-a-day world. The measure Referendum 71 seeks to block will not be read by casual petition signers. That is a shame, because the innate fairness intended in the legislation is truly in the details. [Link]
June 16, 2009
WASHINGTON voters have every good reason to ignore signature gatherers who seek to block an expansion of rights for registered domestic partners. The legislation, Senate Bill 5688, is fundamentally about gay and lesbian couples and their families living within the framework of the law, with all its practical realities and complexities. These are adults in committed relationships, raising children, running businesses and owning property. They have real estate, pensions and sick leave, and child-custody issues that are part of the work-a-day world. The measure Referendum 71 seeks to block will not be read by casual petition signers. That is a shame, because the innate fairness intended in the legislation is truly in the details. [Link]
Coquille marriage equality law takes effect
Posted on Jun 14, 2009 at 11:32 pm
The Oregonian
May 21, 2009
A Coquille Indian Tribe law allowing marriage equality took effect on Wednesday, May 20, 2009. The law recognizes the freedom to marry and extends to gay and lesbian partners, at least one of whom must be Coquille, all tribal benefits of marriage. Neither Washington nor Oregon have legalized marriage equality, but as a federally recognized sovereign nation, the tribe is not bound by the Oregon Constitution. [Link]
Drive to stop same sex partnership law is dividing conservatives
Posted on Jun 08, 2009 at 11:01 am
Los Angeles Times
June 8, 2009
Conservative groups in Washington State have begun collecting signatures for a ballot referendum to block a new state law that substantially expands rights for domestic partners. When it takes effect in July, the law will expand previous domestic partnership rights to include issues like adoption, child support, pensions and other public-employee benefits. The Rev. Joe Fuiten, founder of Positive Christian Agenda, recently circulated an e-mail asking Christian conservatives to consider the downside of picking this fight when polls show that most Washingtonians favor broad equal rights for domestic partners. [Link]
June 8, 2009
Conservative groups in Washington State have begun collecting signatures for a ballot referendum to block a new state law that substantially expands rights for domestic partners. When it takes effect in July, the law will expand previous domestic partnership rights to include issues like adoption, child support, pensions and other public-employee benefits. The Rev. Joe Fuiten, founder of Positive Christian Agenda, recently circulated an e-mail asking Christian conservatives to consider the downside of picking this fight when polls show that most Washingtonians favor broad equal rights for domestic partners. [Link]
Marriage Equality strategy raises issue of privacy in democratic process
Posted on Jun 08, 2009 at 10:18 am
The Seattle Times
June 7, 2009
Some members of the marriage equality movement are putting typically arcane, archived public documents about who signed a petition against the freedom to marry within reach of anyone with a computer. Evan Wolfson, executive director of the marriage equality group Freedom to Marry, said it's reasonable for gays to learn how members of their family and their neighbors, co-workers — even friends — stand on issues crucial to their lives. "There's nothing more threatening and intimidating than launching a ballot measure to take away protections from your neighbors," he said. [Link]
June 7, 2009
Some members of the marriage equality movement are putting typically arcane, archived public documents about who signed a petition against the freedom to marry within reach of anyone with a computer. Evan Wolfson, executive director of the marriage equality group Freedom to Marry, said it's reasonable for gays to learn how members of their family and their neighbors, co-workers — even friends — stand on issues crucial to their lives. "There's nothing more threatening and intimidating than launching a ballot measure to take away protections from your neighbors," he said. [Link]
EDITORIAL: Gay Rights: Benefits for Federal Workers the Next Logical Step
Posted on May 26, 2009 at 04:41 pm
The Seattle Times
May 26, 2009
The Seattle Times advocates for the extension of domestic partnership benefits to the partners of gay federal employees: "Americans are ready, or should be, for a fair-minded adjustment of federal policy." [Link]
May 26, 2009
The Seattle Times advocates for the extension of domestic partnership benefits to the partners of gay federal employees: "Americans are ready, or should be, for a fair-minded adjustment of federal policy." [Link]
Referendum to overturn domestic partner law moving forward
Posted on May 19, 2009 at 03:37 pm
Seattle Post-Intelligencer
May 19, 2009
On the same day Gov. Chris Gregoire signed a bill granting same sex domestic partners all the state protections of married couples, the attorney general released details of a referendum aimed at overturning the new law. (Link)
May 19, 2009
On the same day Gov. Chris Gregoire signed a bill granting same sex domestic partners all the state protections of married couples, the attorney general released details of a referendum aimed at overturning the new law. (Link)
Challenge to Domestic Partnership Expansion Filed
Posted on May 05, 2009 at 12:27 pm
The Associated Press
May 4, 2009
Anti-gay activists filed a referendum Monday to overturn Washington State's expanded domestic partnership law. The effort requires collection of more than 120,500 valid signatures by July 25 to qualify for the November ballot, and delays implementation of the law. [Link]
May 4, 2009
Anti-gay activists filed a referendum Monday to overturn Washington State's expanded domestic partnership law. The effort requires collection of more than 120,500 valid signatures by July 25 to qualify for the November ballot, and delays implementation of the law. [Link]
Wash. Leg OKs More Benefits for Same-Sex Couples
Posted on Apr 27, 2009 at 10:32 am
Seattle Post-Intelligencer
April 23, 2009
The Washington state Legislature passed a bill Thursday that would extend pension benefits to same-sex partners of firefighters and police officers killed in the line of duty. The legislation now goes to Gov. Chris Gregoire. [Link]
April 23, 2009
The Washington state Legislature passed a bill Thursday that would extend pension benefits to same-sex partners of firefighters and police officers killed in the line of duty. The legislation now goes to Gov. Chris Gregoire. [Link]