Gay marriage supporters hold thank you rally for Obama in Seattle

Gay marriage supporters are staging a thank you rally for Obama in Seattle on Thursday. (AP Photo)

A woman who has been at the center of battle for equal
rights for same-sex couples in Washington will be hosting
a thank you rally for the president during his visit to
Seattle on Thursday.

Charlene Strong, became active in the effort after the
death of her partner, Kate Fleming. She said a social
worker kept her from her partner’s bedside and wanted
proof of their relationship the night she passed away.

“When we got to Harborview there was a social worker who
was at the doors of the emergency room (and) was adamant
about needing proof,” said Strong. “In Washington state,
at the time of Kate’s passing, there were no legal
protections for same-sex couples.”

Strong testified for Washington’s Domestic Partnership
legislation a month after Kate’s death.

She told 97.3 KIRO FM’s Ross and Burbank Show that
it was an obstacle she never thought she would have to
face.

“Heterosexual couples don’t generally face the same
obstacles at emergency room doors that same-sex couples do
because there isn’t the language of marriage to recognize
our relationship.”

She thinks Obama’s announced support of gay marriage
Wednesday was a watershed moment in the pursuit of equal
rights in Washington.

“He’s the first president who has really spoken very
clearly about supporting same-sex couples, about
supporting same-sex marriage,” said Strong. “It was a
remarkable decision that he made.”

Strong said she had the opportunity to meet President
Obama at the White House a couple of years ago.

“Listening to him speak, I felt his sincerity about his
commitment to the LGBT community, and more in particularly
to same-sex couples.”

She also doesn’t condemn him for not speaking out before
now, saying she thinks politics is “a very, very difficult
job.”

“Is it easy to hear someone kind of side-stepping
something? Absolutely not. But I also am smart enough to
know […] you have to know when the timing is correct to
make a decision to speak about something.”

Strong also sees Obama’s visit to Washington as well-
timed.

“The referendum 74 people, who would like to take our
rights away, have half of the signatures. They feel
they’ll have the rest by June. Hopefully when someone
hears President Obama today, they’ll make the decision not
to sign that petition to get it on the ballot in June.”

For those that are still on the fence, Strong had a
message.

“Anyone who’s listening that is not quite sure how they
feel about this, just be mindful of the fact that we hurt
the same way that everyone else does and we have the same
families and we build families and we build relationships
and we build those memories in love. I think there’s
nothing wrong in asking for us to have equal rights, not
special rights.”

Strong and other gay marriage supporters will be gathering
in a thank you rally outside President Obama’s appearance
at the Paramount Theatre at 1:30 on Thursday.

By JAMIE GRISWOLD, MyNorthwest.com Editor