Decline to Sign Petition

The following letter, written by YWCA Clark County Executive Director Kathy Kniep, appeared in The Columbian on June 27, 2009.

As its executive director and on behalf of YWCA Clark County, I ask Washington voters: Please support registered domestic partnerships and decline to sign Referendum 71 petitions. Our organization opposes Referendum 71 and supports the 2009 Domestic Partnership Expansion Law. We take this position because our mission is to eliminate oppression and build a community of peace, justice, freedom and dignity for all people. This includes oppression based on sexual orientation. 

Referendum 71 petitions would require a vote overturning Senate Bill 5688. The new law is needed and appropriate. Our current law limits many partnership benefits to married couples. This new law expands state law, allowing the same benefits for domestic partnerships: heterosexual couples over age 62 and homosexual couples. Registered domestic partners may lose more than 200 rights and responsibilities if Referendum 71 qualifies for the ballot and is passed. The Domestic Partnership Expansion Law takes effect July 26 unless opponents collect 120,577 valid signatures to put Referendum 71 on the ballot. It's time to guarantee the rights of domestic partners. Please do not sign the Referendum 71 petitions.