Latest poll standings for the 4 states with marriage equality on ballot
New from Washington United
Let’s hear it for the good guys at Washington United for Marriage!
Both of these ads are terrific in that they address the “religious freedom” concerns some people have. I think that’s a very good thing to at least attempt to let folks know churches and clergy won’t be forced to do anything against their faith.
I like these a lot.
Washington: Support continues to grow for marriage equality
A new Elway Poll of Washington state finds Washington’s Referendum 74, on the question of approving marriage equality for same-sex couples in the state, has a 52 to 40 percent lead.
Two months ago, the same firm found marriage equality leading by a 49 to 39 percent plurality.
Seattle Times backs marriage equality in Washington
The Seattle Times has launched its own social media campaign in support of same-sex marriage in Washington state.
Do you support same-sex marriage? Join The Seattle Times editorial board’s social media campaign to approve Referendum 74 on the Nov. 6 ballot. In your Sunday Seattle Times newspaper on Sept. 16, turn to the opinion section. Look for the sign that looks like this [above]. Cut it out. Take a photo of you, your partner or your family holding this sign and share it on Twitter or Instagram with the hashtag #IDo74. You can also email the photo to ido@seattletimes.com. Please include names of the people in the photo. By sharing your photo, you give The Seattle Times permission to publish the photo in print and online.
Visit and “like” their new Facebook page.
In addition, The News Tribune, the Spokesman Review, and The Columbian all endorsed R-74 and the freedom to marry, Washington United for Marriage reported Monday.
The News Tribune, which serves Tacoma and Pierce County, just south of Seattle, kept the rhetoric simple in its editorial endorsement for Referendum 74: “Why [Washingtonians] should vote yes can be summed up in one word. Equality.”
The Columbian, which serves the greater Vancouver, Wash., area, pointed out that since the state already embraces civil unions, it’s only logical to support full civil marriage for same-sex couples.
The Spokane-based Spokesman Review cites the recycled rhetoric of historic opposition to interracial marriage, which was struck down by the U.S. Supreme Court in 1967’s Loving v. Virginia.
“It’s not appropriate for citizens to vote on basic civil rights,” says the Spokesman Review’s editorial board. “But since the question is on the ballot, we hope Washingtonians will affirm the courageous and compassionate law adopted by the Legislature last spring.”
(source)
Washington: Alaska Air supports marriage equality
And another large corporation announces support for marriage equality in Washington state!
Senior leadership at Alaska Air Group and Alaska Airlines have announced their support for Washington United for Marriage and the campaign to Approve Referendum 74, joining a growing number of corporate leaders and businesses who understand the fundamental fairness of the bipartisan marriage law.
For Alaska Air Group and Alaska Airlines president Brad Tilden (pictured left) and his wife, Danielle, it comes down to doing the right thing. “Marriage equality is the right and fair thing to do in and for our state,” said Tilden, “From a business perspective, we risk losing qualified employees and applicants to other states which have adopted marriage equality statutes. Danielle and I are proud to support this initiative and are hopeful it will take our state to a new and more equitable place.”
The latest from Washington United
Nice. Straight-forward and speaks to the heart. Washington state looks like they know what they are doing.
Thinking good thoughts come November.
Washington: Marriage equality referendum polling at 56%
A new SurveyUSA poll shows support for Referendum 74, the ballot referendum on Washington’s marriage equality law, is surging with 56 percent approval and only 38 percent rejection.
Public Policy Polling found in June that 51 percent were prepared to vote for the measure — the first time that number crossed the 50 percent threshold.
The campaign supporting Referendum 74 has received immense corporate support, out-fundraising opponents 20-to-1, and the resulting messaging strategy seems to be working.
Via ThinkProgress
New campaign for marriage equality – The Four 2012
New campaign to support the marriage equality issues in Maine, Maryland, Minnesota and Washington. Check it out at www.TheFour2012.com
From the website: Anti-gay and anti-human rights organizations in our country are mobilizing – putting vast sums of money and resources into all four states to defeat us. In the past, despite great polls – we have lost ballot initiatives. Our opposition is organized and well-funded. But we have what they don’t – we’re fighting for love, not against it.
Every day there will be another way to stand for marriage equality. You can sign up for updates with the FOUR and new ways to fight for marriage equality every day between now and the election.
Expedia endorses marriage equality in Washington state
Washington United for Marriage, the coalition working to defend the state’s bipartisan marriage law, today announced that Expedia, the world’s largest online travel company with household brands like Expedia.com, Hotels.com, Classic Vacations and Hotwire, has endorsed the freedom to marry and the effort to approve Referendum 74 this November.
Washington United for Marriage, the coalition working to defend the state’s bipartisan marriage law, today announced that Expedia, the world’s largest online travel company with household brands like Expedia.com, Hotels.com, Classic Vacations and Hotwire, has endorsed the freedom to marry and the effort to approve Referendum 74 this November. Headquartered in Bellevue, Expedia has 2,270 employees in Washington State and 8,900 worldwide.
In its statement President and CEO Dara Khosrowshahi wrote, in part “As the world’s largest online travel company — with operations in well over 30 countries — we know firsthand that the world is a diverse place. [snip] Supporting the legislation recently passed in Washington State — which provides same-sex couples with the same right to civil marriage that opposite sex couples already enjoy — is a natural extension of our ongoing commitment to the LGBT community.”
Thanks Expedia!
Outdoor retailer REI stands up for marriage equality
In a letter to her employees, outdoor retailer REI‘s CEO and President Sally Jewell strongly endorsed marriage equality, Washington United for Marriage reports.
I think what Ms. Jewell says is important and goes to the heart of the marriage equality debate. Because of that, I want to post her full message to her employees. See below the full text.
And thank you Ms. Jewell. Thank you, thank you, thank you.
REI is taking a position in support of marriage equality—an issue that is important to the co-op as an inclusive organization and a welcoming place to work and do business. A referendum on this issue will come before Washington State voters in November after passage through the Washington State Legislature earlier this year; marriage equality is also gaining momentum nationally.
Why is this important to the co-op? Let me begin my answer with a personal perspective. A few weeks ago, my husband Warren and I celebrated our 34th wedding anniversary. We’ve been on a journey through life together since our first date on my 18th birthday, raising our two children, changing jobs, moving to various places, and witnessing the challenges and joys of our relationship and those of our parents, three of them through end-of-life.
For heterosexual couples, it is very easy to take for granted the legal and societal benefits of marriage—health care benefits, retirement benefits, insurance, death benefits, healthcare decisions, child-rearing and custody, and many more, not to mention the meaning of the commitment of marriage that was so vivid to us as we introduced each other as husband or wife for the first time. As executrix of my mother’s estate, the legal benefits of marriage in estate and health issues became even clearer to me over the past year.
Marriage equality is important to the co-op because the benefits, legal clarity and societal understanding that Warren and I have enjoyed these past 34 years should be available to any two people who want to express their love and make a permanent commitment to each other that is so clearly provided for in the legal definition of marriage.
When I joined REI in 2000, I realized what it was like to work in a place that was inclusive of people without regard to their sexual orientation. This was not the case early in my career as an engineer, nor in the 19 years I spent in banking. In those years, I witnessed the challenge that my colleagues experienced—where seemingly simple questions about relationships, children, or even weekend activities could become delicate and difficult to answer, because being “out” was dangerous to one’s career.
I am proud of the inclusive environment that REI creates for our LGBT teammates and customers, and recognize that this is a continuing journey for all of us as we strive to be increasingly inclusive across all of the dimensions of diversity. The investment we have made in inclusion training across the organization is an important step in this journey.
The Board, Leadership Forum and I are committed to ensuring that we continue to create an environment where people can be themselves and feel welcome at REI, including respecting religious and political diversity. I want to ensure that our colleagues and customers who have beliefs that run counter to the position the co-op is taking on this issue feel respected in their right to disagree. My own journey in understanding and coming to this position on marriage equality has been shaped by thoughtful, heartfelt discussions with people who have held a variety of differing perspectives. I encourage you to engage each other in a discussion, practicing our core value of respect—“we listen to and learn from each other.
Sixteen years from now, when I expect to be celebrating my 50th wedding anniversary, I sincerely hope that there will be millions more of a new generation for whom 50 years of marriage will become a possibility through these changes in our legal system.
I invite your reflections and thoughts on this blog post.
Warmly,
Sally