An improved Domestic Partner bill (marriage except in name) is about to be signed into law in Washington State. Yup, efforts are underway to overturn it through a citizen referendum. Though a few of the anti-gay crowd want to make "a statement of belief" they are denouncing the attempt at a referendum. Say what? Joe Fuiten of the Family Policy Institute gives these reasons (according to The Stranger):
The referendum would be rejected by voters, the last signature-gathering effort failed, people don't care about taking away gay rights, people don't have the money for the fight, and the group is afraid to look like out-of-touch bigots.
Out-of-touch bigots? That never stopped them before. It's good to hear it does now. It is also good to hear the effort will fail and that Fuiten recognizes that.
Maine!
The legislature has passed and the governor has signed a bill to legalize same-sex marriage. This is the 5th state to enact it, and the 2nd to do so without a court order. Governor John Baldacci is the first governor to approve such a bill (it became law in Vermont through a veto override). This article describes Baldacci's change of heart -- he used to think civil unions were enough. The bill contains explicit language that says religious institutions cannot be forced to perform marriages they disapprove. Opponents have a limited time to get a huge number of signatures to force a voter referendum.
District of Columbia!
DC has taken the second vote to approve a district law to recognize gay marriages from other states. Congress has 30 days to decide if they want to overturn it. One Mormon congressman from Utah is ready to do just that. So much for the hope that Congress will simply ignore the new law. But Pelosi is quite willing to let DC do what it wants -- Congress can't intervene in New York, why should it in DC?
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