Published: Thursday, November 5, 2009
DOMESTIC PARTNERSHIPS
A historic vote for fairness
Washington voters are to be congratulated for leading the nation toward a new standard of fairness.
Assuming current trends hold, as is expected, voters affirmed a new law that gives same-sex domestic partnerships the same legal responsibilities and benefits as marriages — without labeling them as such.
The vote approving Referendum 71 was close — roughly 52 percent to 48 percent statewide and in Snohomish County through Wednesday’s count. But that was enough for Washington to make history with the first voter-approved, statewide expansion of rights for gays and lesbians.
This wasn’t a vote to approve same-sex marriage, as R-71 opponents suggested by warning it would lead to a court decision legalizing such unions. It was a question of whether basic rights should apply to all families, regardless of sexual orientation. A majority of Washington voters are now on record saying that loving, committed relationships between consenting adults deserve to be honored and protected equally under the law.
Same-sex families have long been a reality, and have proven to be at least as able to provide a stable, loving home for children as any other. It was fundamentally unfair that they weren’t afforded the same rights as others in areas like adoption, child custody and support, or taking sick leave to care for a partner — rights provided by R-71.
The relative closeness of the vote suggests that the Legislature’s incremental approach to domestic partnership rights was wise. Such rights have been expanded by lawmakers in each of the past three years, allowing voters to become gradually less wary of any perceived downsides.
A majority appears to agree that when it comes to fundamental fairness, there is no downside.
Voters found plenty to dislike in the other statewide ballot issue decided Tuesday, Tim Eyman’s Initiative 1033, which would have limited the growth of state, county and city revenues. It was losing badly through Wednesday’s tally, 56-44 percent, a sound rebuke to Eyman’s propensity to overreach and a defense of local government, which would have lost vital fiscal flexibility.
That said, public officials — particularly state lawmakers and the governor — should not read the results as a green light to raise taxes next year. Government revenues remain well below planned spending, the same situation many families face in this economy. Those families must balance their budgets with the income they have, and they rightly expect state to do the same.
Assuming current trends hold, as is expected, voters affirmed a new law that gives same-sex domestic partnerships the same legal responsibilities and benefits as marriages — without labeling them as such.
The vote approving Referendum 71 was close — roughly 52 percent to 48 percent statewide and in Snohomish County through Wednesday’s count. But that was enough for Washington to make history with the first voter-approved, statewide expansion of rights for gays and lesbians.
This wasn’t a vote to approve same-sex marriage, as R-71 opponents suggested by warning it would lead to a court decision legalizing such unions. It was a question of whether basic rights should apply to all families, regardless of sexual orientation. A majority of Washington voters are now on record saying that loving, committed relationships between consenting adults deserve to be honored and protected equally under the law.
Same-sex families have long been a reality, and have proven to be at least as able to provide a stable, loving home for children as any other. It was fundamentally unfair that they weren’t afforded the same rights as others in areas like adoption, child custody and support, or taking sick leave to care for a partner — rights provided by R-71.
The relative closeness of the vote suggests that the Legislature’s incremental approach to domestic partnership rights was wise. Such rights have been expanded by lawmakers in each of the past three years, allowing voters to become gradually less wary of any perceived downsides.
A majority appears to agree that when it comes to fundamental fairness, there is no downside.
Voters found plenty to dislike in the other statewide ballot issue decided Tuesday, Tim Eyman’s Initiative 1033, which would have limited the growth of state, county and city revenues. It was losing badly through Wednesday’s tally, 56-44 percent, a sound rebuke to Eyman’s propensity to overreach and a defense of local government, which would have lost vital fiscal flexibility.
That said, public officials — particularly state lawmakers and the governor — should not read the results as a green light to raise taxes next year. Government revenues remain well below planned spending, the same situation many families face in this economy. Those families must balance their budgets with the income they have, and they rightly expect state to do the same.
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