Same Sex marriage
Supporters of R-74 celebrate early election reults Tuesday night at the Westin Hotel. (KIRO Radio/Bill Lennert)

Gay marriage supporters declare victory in R-74

BY MyNorthwest.com  on November 6, 2012 @ 4:10 pm (Updated: 5:26 am - 11/8/12 )

Supporters of gay marriage in Washington state say after crunching numbers throughout the night, they have determined that Referendum 74 will prevail once all ballots are counted. Voters passed similar measures in Maine and Maryland.

Check live results

With slightly more than half of expected ballots tallied Tuesday night, R-74 entered Wednesday with 52 percent of the vote, compared to 48 percent for those opposed. When the ballot count was released Wednesday evening, the percentage remained unchanged.

"This is a clear win," Washington United for Marriage Campaign Manager Zach Silk said in a statement. "We have run the numbers every which way, and we can now confidently say that we have won. This is an historic day for Washington, an historic day for our country and, most of all, for families across the state who have dreamed of this day and the wedding celebrations to come."

The group opposed to R-74, Preserve Marriage Washington, said the campaign was still too close to call.

"There is still a path to victory for us," said Chip White, Preserve Marriage Washington spokesperson. "I think people need to respect the process and wait for the ballots to come in."

Eleven counties will return remaining ballots starting at 4:00 p.m. PST.

The measure asked Washingtonians to approve or reject a state law legalizing same-sex marriage that lawmakers passed earlier in the year. That law was signed by Gov. Chris Gregoire, but has been on hold pending the outcome of the election.

The road to gay marriage in Washington state began several years ago.

A year after the state's gay marriage ban was upheld by the state Supreme Court, the state's first domestic partnership law passed in 2007, granting couples about two dozen rights, including hospital visitation and inheritance rights when there is no will. It was expanded a year later, and then again in 2009, when lawmakers completed the package with the so-called "everything but marriage" bill that was ultimately upheld by voters later that same year.

This year, after lawmakers passed the law allowing gay marriage, Preserve Marriage gathered enough signatures for a referendum.

If voters uphold the law, gay couples could start picking up their marriage certificates and licenses from county auditor offices Dec. 6, a day after the election is certified. However, because Washington state has a three-day waiting period, the earliest the certificate could be signed, making the marriage valid, is Dec. 9.

"The reality is, if we could pass this thing, we have young people all over this country they're going to wake up knowing that they're going to be fully recognized. Their relationships are going to be validated and they're going to be a part of an institution that everyone else is a part of," said Lacey All, R-74 campaign chair.

The law does not require religious organizations or churches to perform marriages, and does not subject churches to penalties if they don't marry gay or lesbian couples.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

MyNorthwest.com, Staff report
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Comments (81)


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  • Zagnut wrote...
    I see where our selfish group of voters don't care much about our children.
    November 6, 2012 8:32 pm
    No big surprise. Hey, whatever makes you feel good. I say we smoke some pot, take a few shots, and snort a line or two off our same-sex lover's belly. Who's in?!
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • gaymarriedchristianfromhollywood wrote...
    Me!!!!!!!!
    November 6, 2012 8:36 pm
    Just kidding. You are such a drama queen.
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • Zagnut wrote...
    You aren't kidding.
    November 6, 2012 8:46 pm
    And I'm not a drama queen :)
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • gaymarriedchristianfromhollywood wrote...
    LOL - I'll take you up on the mary-g-guana, but pass on the rest.
    November 7, 2012 7:45 am
    Zagnut, it's not so bad. I'm not sorry your side lost, but I do wish we weren't such a divided nation. I know you love this country and I know you worry for the future. That is not a small thing. So even though I disagree with you, I want you to know I think the future looks bright. There is no country on Earth like ours. We are a dysfunctional family but in other countries there would be rioting in the streets. Here we accept things as the will of the people and hope for the best. That is something we should all be proud of.
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • BeenThere wrote...
    @gmcfh...I do wish we weren't such a divided nation.
    November 7, 2012 10:08 am
    Well said booya. May it come to pass.
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • HockeyMom wrote...
    Agreed, gaymarriedchristian!
    November 7, 2012 11:16 am
    Amen! That was a great response. We do all love this country and look for the freedoms of this country to be shared by all people. For me, it has been really exciting to see my 17 year so involved in the issues and actually working to help pass R74 even though she is too young to vote this year. It is important to get our younger generations fired up about making this a better country, no matter our differing opinions.
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • Zagnut wrote...
    Nice post gaymarriedblahblahblah
    November 7, 2012 4:37 pm
    Not to be combative after such a cool post, but although I know conservatives take a loss with grace, I'm not so sure about the other side. There were quite a few Rodney King references in threats from the left before the election. The lack of rioting in the streets may be the one good thing about this election turning out the way it did. If my side had won, there's a reasonable chance we'd be dealing with riots. And there WAS no country on earth like ours. We are looking more and more like a bunch of European countries that are tumbling off financial cliffs as we banter.
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • Angry Monkey wrote...
    Zagnut
    November 7, 2012 6:55 pm

    "The lack of rioting in the streets may be the one good thing about this election turning out the way it did. If my side had won, there's a reasonable chance we'd be dealing with riots"

    AH-HAHAHAHAHA! Yeah, because that is what the gays are known for; rioting. Because that is exactly what happened in every major city, in every state where gay marriage voted down. Rioting. hahahahaha... oh man, that's great...

    Conservatives take a loss with grace? Are you serious right now? You guys have been doing nothing but pissing and moaning for the last four years. A Democrat wins the Gubernatorial race two elections in a row, and you guys cry voter fraud.

    "Closed minded about what you stupid A H O L E. The fact that I'm right clearly bothers you, you little cockroach. Otherwise you would just stay quiet. But you can't because you know you aren't right. You know you are wrong. You may win a vote now and then, but it doesn't make you right. And that hurts. A LOT. Sorry about that cockroach." - Zagnut

    Is this what you mean by Conservatives taking a loss with grace? I never thought I'd see another poster here more unhinged than It's me! Ha ha!, but you sir are coming close.

    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • FormerMarineSgt wrote...
    @angry Monkey...
    November 8, 2012 5:46 am
    Zagnut must have missed the Trump twitter meltdown and the Karl Rove's pathetic arguing on the air with the FOX News election analysis group when they called Ohio for Obama (they can't call it for Obama when there's ONLY 73% of the vote reported and making references to 'bad calls have been made before' such as Florida in the Bush election...). So yeah - it's only Libs who react badly... The problem is that the right is living in an alternate reality bubble where they are the only ones who are right, the only ones who have ANY solutions to America's problems and of course, White Males are the ones in control of this country. It would appear that many, Zagnut included are at least partially within this alternate reality bubble.
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • Zagnut wrote...
    FYI
    November 8, 2012 6:30 am
    http://theeconomiccollapseblog.com/archives/thousands-of-shocking-threats-of-violence-by-obama-supporters-on-the-eve-of-the-election
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • gaymarriedchristianfromhollywood wrote...
    Well, I don't know. I like to think not.
    November 7, 2012 7:43 pm
    But then again I'm an eternal optimist. For the record, I had no intention of rioting if your side won. I would just bide my time. The conservative party is relying on a shrinking electorate. Older conservative voters are a dying breed (literally). The new electorate is more diverse, and exceedingly more liberal when it comes to social issues.
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • maplefish wrote...
    @gaymarriedhollywoodwhatever....
    November 7, 2012 6:42 pm
    Yesterday you sounded like an idiot. Today, well, not so much... Here's to hoping for the best for friends, family & Country.
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • gaymarriedchristianfromhollywood wrote...
    Awww shucks...you too don't seem as big an azzhole.
    November 7, 2012 8:02 pm
    High five.
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • Phil B wrote...
    Oh noes!
    November 6, 2012 9:15 pm
    Quick! Better escape to Idaho before your kids catch the ghey and we turn them into potheads!
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • Sir wrote...
    And?
    November 7, 2012 10:39 am
    How does smoking pot and doing shots of a gay lover's body, bad for the kids?
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • Hayduke wrote...
    Ouch!!!
    November 6, 2012 8:44 pm
    Talk about adding insult to injury. I hope the gays go make out force in front of your churches.

    Tough night for you RWNJ's You guys were sooo sure that ONLY YOUR SIDE, the White Christian Conservatives were the real Americans, and that you were the unspoken majority. How does it feel to be so wrong?

    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • maplefish wrote...
    Oh Well,
    November 6, 2012 8:49 pm
    Have fun. Good luck & Good night. Here's to whatever lies ahead....
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • Angry Monkey wrote...
    Oh no!
    November 6, 2012 10:00 pm
    What are you guys going to do tomorrow or the next day, or next week, month, year, when you wake up and your "traditional" marriage is...*gasp* exactly the same?
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • Jeddite wrote...
    WHEN IT COMES TO MARY JANE AND GAYS
    November 6, 2012 10:00 pm
    Zagnut apparently needs the government to do the parenting for him... "FOR THE CHILDREN", "FOR THE CHILDREN" - the clarion call of the agenda-pushing loser-sheep (on both sides of the political aisle).
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • Sean wrote...
    A few facts here for you:
    November 6, 2012 11:15 pm
    1. A VERY FEW counties here in WA are passing this. It's is by no means a statewide support of gay "marriage." So dont get all wet quite yet. 2. Not sure why you're all celebrating quite yet, with 40 PERCENT of the votes still to be counted. 3. This issue was no more about RIGHTS than the Seahawks are a water polo team. Too bad so many WA residents got sucked in once again by the "poor us, victimization, discrimination, oppression, intolerance" pleas that all the R74 support ads claimed, and were too blind to see the difference between an issue about rights and an issue about REDEFINING A WORD. 4. Yes, it DOES benefit society to uphold a LONG-standing term of marriage to mean a man and a woman -- that's a standard and a model that IS worthy of maintaining for the long-disintegrating family model in our society (and byntonights bote, the VAST majority of WA counties think so. 5. Why can the gay community not accept that, in the family dynamic, it IS different? Yu really think teo moms or teo dads is the same as a mom and a dad??? Are you insane??? It seems that YOU are the ones who can't tolerate to think of yourselves as ANY different, when its absurdly obviously that you ARE different. But no, that does not mean you shouldnt have equal RIGHTS. But its not about the RIGHTS, is it??!!! Many if not most opponents to R74 have no problem with your differences or your having all the same rights as hetero couples -- but it's not about the RIGHTS, is it!?!? You have to redefine a word that has had a very specific meaning for centuries, and certainly throughout generations of American society. You poor things, so unwilling to accept that you're different.
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • Angry Monkey wrote...
    Sean.... here are a few facts for you...
    November 7, 2012 12:19 am
    The number of counties supporting or not supporting this initiative is irrelevant. It's a popular vote, and most of the population resides in King, Pierce, and Snohomish counties.

    Of course this issue is about rights. Any time government tells one group of people 'you can do *social issue*', and another group 'you may not do *social issue*' then that is discrimination, and someone's rights are being trampled upon. Opponents of this initiative pretend it is really all about redefining a word, because if you admit it is about rights, then you also have to admit you're a prejudiced bigot, and no one wants to admit that.

    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • Sean wrote...
    AngryMonkey, I completely understand
    November 7, 2012 7:11 am
    That you just don't get it, because I've been hearing it for a year now from your side. You can't even admit that this issue isn't even about the rights, can you? What a laugh. Oh, and by the way, R75 R supporters, it's Tuesday a.m. and only about HALF of the state's votes are counted. Again, don't get too gleeful quite yet! Kinda funny that there's only a tiny difference in the gaps in the Governor's race and the R74 issue, yet the media' headlines quite clearly suggest an R74 win when they're calling the Guv ace "too close to call." Nope, this isn't about the rights, folks, it's about the gay community's inability to accept its own clear differences when so many others of us already HAVE. Amazing......
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • Angry Monkey wrote...
    Sean...
    November 7, 2012 8:15 am
    It is about rights, and I've already explained why. I would suggest reading up on the fourteenth amendment, specifically the equal protection clause, but you're probably wasting your time as reading comprehension is clearly not your strong suit.

    You might want to turn on the radio too, because everything I've heard says R75 is still up in the air.

    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • Sean wrote...
    And no, Angry!onkey,
    November 7, 2012 7:17 am
    I didn't expect you to understand my point about the huge imbalance of support/non-support between mainly King County and almost ALL of the other counties. But you obviously do not.
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • Angry Monkey wrote...
    still irrelevant Sean...
    November 7, 2012 8:23 am
    If you spread out the population of King County evenly throughout the rest of the state, it still wins by popular vote.

    Keep pretending it makes a difference if it helps you sleep though.

    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • Sir wrote...
    the defining a word thing
    November 7, 2012 11:00 am
    Both Gayness and Marriage are thousands of years older than your religion.
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • Rick W7PSK wrote...
    What is the over/Under on the first law suits
    November 7, 2012 5:47 am
    for the supposed protected rights of Religion institutions.
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • bofus wrote...
    So how does this infringe on religion?
    November 7, 2012 6:32 am
    There is nothing in the law that requires churches to marry gays.
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • Zagnut wrote...
    There is nothing in the law that requires churches to marry gays.
    November 7, 2012 6:44 am
    Bofus, I wish there was a way for me to fast forward a couple years and have you eat these words.
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • bofus wrote...
    Quit the whining
    November 7, 2012 1:13 pm
    I repeat...there is nothing in the law that requires churches to marry gays. as for fast forwarding a couple of years I just say your crystal ball hasn't worked very well for you.
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • FormerMarineSgt wrote...
    @rick....
    November 7, 2012 9:43 am
    The fact that the law stricly defines churches and established religions as not being allowed to be forced to perform gay marriages blows that entire line out of the water. Your fantasy is a fail.
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • Rick W7PSK wrote...
    Former Marine
    November 7, 2012 9:50 am
    An one law Suit will blow that line out of the Bill. The courts cant change that part of it in a heart beat and you know it. Your fantasy is FAIL.
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • Rick W7PSK wrote...
    Courts CAN change it in a heart beat
    November 7, 2012 9:50 am
    FF syndrome.
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • FormerMarineSgt wrote...
    @Rick
    November 8, 2012 5:48 am
    I honestly believe that you are the one with the fantasy that people are going to sue churches, etc.
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • Sean wrote...
    And by the way,
    November 7, 2012 7:30 am
    don't you just love how the citizens of Washington vote in 2009 to APPROVE the "Everything but Marriage" act -- granting all the same rights to gay couples as hetero committed couples -- but then the spineless governor and lawmakers in our state capitulate to the whiny cry-wolf poor-victimized-intolerated-discriminated-against gay community and decide to pass a law that NEGATES that VOTE OF THE PEOPLE? And you R74 supporters cannot even admit that this issue isn't about having the rights, its about redefining a very-clearly-defined word to help YOUR sel-esteem. It's the inability of the gay community here to even admit the essence of this issue that's most amazing about it all. And thanks, lawmakers and Queen Christine. Never mind that silly democratic process that we exercised in 2009.... Wat a farce and a mockery you've Mae of this political system in this state.
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • Booger Barnes wrote...
    redefining a word
    November 7, 2012 8:10 am
    Do you all get this upset every time a word is redefined? From all of your posts that seems to be the common thread. Now that this law is going to be passed, it won’t change your marriage at all, nor mine. You won’t be forced to gay marry anyone. You rights haven’t been infringed upon in anyway. So it boils down to the redefining of a word. Seems pretty petty to me.
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • Sean wrote...
    It CLEARLY changes the meaning of my marriage
    November 7, 2012 8:18 am
    What an idiotic statement. If laws were passed that made marriage OK between a person and a couch, or an animal, or a tree, would it not change the meaning of your marriage? Of course it would. That's an extreme example, of course, and gay couples are not trees or couches. But for a he11 of a lot of us, it DOES mean something that our marriage and family model upholds a man and a woman as a standard and model. That now means quite a it less to many of us -- the meaning has been SIGNIFICANTLY diluted. Are you blind to this???
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • Booger Barnes wrote...
    Sean..
    November 7, 2012 8:30 am
    If this law somehow dilutes the significance of your marriage then YOU are the one with a marriage problem. This law has absolutely no effect on my marriage. None what so ever. Marriage is just a word. That’s all it is. The love of my wife and her love for me is what our union, marriage or partnership is about. Not the word. Does divorce effect your marriage as well? Does a woman and a man getting divorced who have children effect your marriage? Not mine. As far as idiotic statements go, you couch analogy gets the gold medal.
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • ryanh4 wrote...
    Well put Booger Barnes!
    November 7, 2012 9:04 am
    ... just wanted to reiterate your point, "This law has absolutely no effect on my marriage." It has no effect on my marriage either! And I'll 2nd a gold medal for his couch analogy, classic. Plus, I really like your screen-name. :)
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • Angry Monkey wrote...
    "It CLEARLY changes the meaning of my marriage"
    November 7, 2012 8:43 am
    If you think this is true Sean, then you have much bigger problems to concern yourself with than gays hookin' up.
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • FormerMarineSgt wrote...
    @sean....
    November 7, 2012 9:49 am
    seperate but equal has never been constitutional - so why do you think in this case it's ok to treat one group of people as lesser citizens, unable to have a right given to all others, that they are fully qualified for with the mere exception of a 'morals' choice?
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • Gar57 wrote...
    Dang!
    November 7, 2012 10:44 am
    So I walk into my local Capitol Hill Mini-mart for a Slim Jim and Slurpee and I got home and looked at my receipt-got charged for a gay wedding! that's right-I got accidently gay married, just like they said I would. Dang!
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • It's me! Ha ha! wrote...
    Since this thing has apparently passed
    November 7, 2012 11:32 am
    will all the haters here be clammering to burn down Christian Churches and attack and assault all those who oppose Homosexual unions being called Marriage by the government? The names of those who oppose this was released. How long before some of these Parrots vandalize our cars and smash our windows?
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • Booger Barnes wrote...
    What?
    November 7, 2012 11:58 am
    What in the world are you talking about? Who threatend to break your windows? Who said they are going to burn down a church?
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • Angry Monkey wrote...
    It's me! Ha ha!
    November 7, 2012 1:52 pm
    Bah-hahahahahahah! More comedic gold from the site's resident screw ball. Where do you come up with this stuff?
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }