Meeting with Rep. Inslee on the Respect for Marriage Act – Act III: Not Just the Poor Man’s Lawyer
Looking back on it now, I can see the strategy Inslee was using when he began the real conversation with us. Start with a point of agreement. “What do you think of Referendum 71?” he asked.
“Well, we wish it had never happened in the first place, but we think it will pass,” I said. Everyone was still in the room, and I feel a little bad that with Inslee there, his legislative assistant, David, kind of faded into the background.
“My wife and I made a donation to the campaign,” he said. “And I sent out an e-mail in support of it–or at least I think I did–if not, I will.”
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What I Learned at Wendy’s: An Accidental Meeting with Small-Town Gay America
Let’s talk about Garfield County, Washington, population 2,060. To my knowledge, I’ve never been there. In fact, until yesterday, I had no idea Garfield County existed. Currently it holds the record for the greatest percentage of voters to reject Referendum 71, the everything-but-marriage referendum. More than 77% voted to reject R-71.*
But nearly 22%, 192 people, voted to uphold the law. Doesn’t sound like much, it’s true. How about this number? 219,897–that’s the number of people who voted to approve R-71 in the yellow counties, the ones like Garfield County, in which a majority of voters rejected R-71.
Read moreMarriage (and Other LGBT) Rights in Florida
We didn’t plan to come to Florida. In fact, knowing what little I did about Florida’s laws concerning LGBT rights, I would have preferred to avoid the state altogether. But it was hot today in Alabama, and that got us thinking about the beach. And there we were, directly north of Pensacola. So we veered left and made our way into the Sunshine State.
I was driving as we passed the sign welcoming us to Florida. Having grown up in New York City, I feel like Florida is a relative of mine. Indeed, I have at least two retired or semi-retired aunts who spend the winter months on the Barrier Islands. So I am particularly disappointed in Florida for being so hostile to us, the way you might be when you find out Grandma voted Republican. I mean, aren’t the Keys just one big gay party?
Read moreThe Morning After the 2009 Election
It’s too early to say for sure, but it looks like the first ever win for a pro-gay initiative on a state ballot. And it’s our state, Washington, that will claim it. The voter-approved law, Senate Bill 5688, will change Washington’s definition of spouse–in every law in which it appears–to include registered domestic partners. For that reason, it’s nicknamed the “everything-but-marriage” law.
We don’t know for sure, though, because too many ballots are still pending. Washington became an all-vote-by-mail state this year, and ballots had to be postmarked, not received, by November 3.
Dawn also finds us at status quo for same-sex marriage on the ballot. Maine, where the results are essentially final, saw a “Yes” answer for Question 1, the challenge to their legislature- and governor-approved law granting same-sex couples marriage rights. That means the law allowing people like us to marry will never take effect.
Read moreElection Fever: Maine and Washington State Referendum Watch
Here at our hotel room in Auburn, Alabama, it’s quiet except for the sound of the TV. My wife and daughter are napping.
In Alabama, Ami would be considered my roommate. My “friend.” And that would probably be how the nice people described our relationship. We’ve left the Promised Land, and it’s a long way to California.
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