Gay marriage opponents say Obama’s decision should bolster R-74 efforts
May 9, 2012, 12:15 PM | Updated: May 10, 2012, 9:12 am
Backers of an effort to overturn gay marriage in
Washington state are welcoming President Obama’s announced
support of same-sex marriage, saying it will bolster their
campaign.
On the eve of the president’s scheduled campaign visit to
the Seattle area Thursday, Protect Marriage Washington
says it has gathered more than half the signatures needed
to qualify a proposed referendum seeking to overturn a law
legalizing gay marriage in Washington state.
Chris Plant, with Preserve Marriage Washington, says the
campaign has over 70,000 signatures on hand. They need
120,577 valid voter signatures in order to qualify get
Referendum 74 on the ballot.
“The president’s stated position now will bring out our
base even more when the ballots come out in October and
November. His appearance in the state will be one that
raises the visibility of the marriage issue and people
that are on the fence will indeed make a decision and
either sign or not sign,” Plant says.
Plant says all of the signature collection has been done
by volunteers, but that the campaign hasn’t ruled out
employing paid signature gatherers for the final push. He
said that many petitions are still yet to be turned in.
And he says they remain confident the measure will have no
problem qualifying for the ballot.
Washington state has had domestic partnership laws since
2007, and in 2009, passed an “everything but
marriage” expansion of that law, which was ultimately
upheld by voters after a referendum challenge. The
Legislature approved gay marriage earlier this year, and
Gov. Chris Gregoire signed it in February.
“Thank you Mr. President. Along with thousands of
Washingtonians who stand strongly for marriage equality,
today we thank you for your courageous and heartfelt act,”
said Gregoire in a statement.
“As we know in Washington state, families are families and
we cannot deny equal rights to committed, loving couples.
Passing the marriage equality bill was among my proudest
accomplishments. Today, I’m equally proud of our
president.”
The Associated Press contributed to this report
