The Washington Secretary of State's final vote count report for the week continues to validate the conclusion that all of Washington state is moving towards equality. Tonight's numbers of 52.6% to 47.4% are not final, as vote counting is still underway. However, even the Secretary of State seems pretty sure about R-71 since their Friday afternoon blog post was titled "R-71: Effective 12-3-09"!
King [County]'s approval rate has been running 68 percent, and a number of the ballots remaining to be counted are from that county. ... If the vote holds, Senate Bill 5688 will go into effect Dec. 3. The election returns will be certified by Secretary of State Sam Reed and Gov. Chris Gregoire, probably on Dec. 1, but under provisions of the Constitution, a bill referred to voters and approved takes effect 30 days after Election Day, or Dec. 3 in this case.
After failing to pray in a victory, campaign manager for Protect Marriage Washington Larry Stickney was expected to concede defeat earlier today. Stickney has failed in his effort to undermine families and disadvantage children through the repeal of Washington's Domestic Partnership Expansion Law of 2009.
Larry Stickney...told LifeSiteNews.com that they plan to wait it out for the rest of [Friday] afternoon (pacific time) to make fully certain of the result and then "probably at that point concede."
No word yet that Stickney has transmitted his concession message to the press. He very well may choose to not communicate with them at all. He locked the media out of the Reject election night party, even the local Everett Herald. "It's a little lonely in the media room at the Holiday Inn in Everett...", reported Janet Tu of The Seattle Times.
A new organization called Youth Revolution popped up in Washington recently. I've written a bit about them here. YR's Executive Director is none other than Russell Johnson, Director of Governmental Affairs for the Focus on the Family/Family Research Council affiliate Family Policy of Institute of Washington. This is the local organization that helped funnel over $200,000 of James Dobson's Colorado money into Washington's Referendum 71 campaign. YR, a youth recruiting tool, has posted the following video on their front page. Without comment, I give you "The Government Can".
Former Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin is set to deliver remarks at a Wisconsin Right to Life event Friday evening, one of the few speeches the former Republican presidential nominee will have given since she resigned the governorship last summer.
NATHANIEL ROGERS Nathaniel would live inside a movie theater but for the poor internet reception. He blogs daily at the Film Experience. YOUR FEATURE PRESENTATION You're barely a reel into Lee Daniel's Precious (based on the novel Push by Sapphire)...
Email reveals deception on the part of the DNC with regard to assistance of Question 1 in Maine and lies about directing Mainers to vote for progressive causes. Jon Hamm in high school. What does Maine's marriage loss mean to...
FIRED: Hate group MassResistance champions case of Massachusetts man who says he was fired for his belief in traditional marriage. FILIPINO PRISONERS: They're back with a Queen medley. WHEN - SOME SAY: New York Governor David Paterson launches reelection campaign....
Note from Lurleen: Louise has allowed me to make this an all-purpose "reactions" diary. The AP has called the approval of R-71 inevitable, although the Secretary of State has yet to certify the result. More below the fold as they come in, but first let me share two headliners. First from Washington's Governor Chris Gregoire
"I am extremely pleased that voters have approved Referendum 71. I signed the original bill and believe it is the right policy for our great state. Washington state has a history of fighting to ensure everyone - mothers, fathers, sons, daughters, brothers, sisters - enjoys equal rights. From the first bill I signed in 2007 to this new law, we have proudly made great strides on behalf of all Washington families."
Triangle Journal News in Memphis and, since April 2006, she has been a regular panelist on Out & About Today on News Channel 5 in Nashville. Previously, she was a columnist for Out & About Nashville from August 2004 to December 2005 and the author of Casa Marisa, a monthly column in Transgender Community News from July 1999 to August 2004.
Although there were no transgender witnesses at yesterday's ENDA hearings, Senator Jeff Merkley (D-OR) made sure transgender voices were heard. Retired U.S. Army Col. Diane Schroer and Earline Budd spoke at a press conference before the ENDA hearings yesterday. Officer...
In a scene identical to the one he used to punk Paula Abdul, Bruno degrades the gardeners by having them serve as furniture for a Pete Rose interview, and then rolls out the human sushi platter. Abdul wisely fled the...
Our old fundie friend, Pastor Gary Cass of the Christian Anti-Defamation Commission (yeah, that's clue number one about his point of view), is back at his gay hating ways. But this time he's taking it to a whole new level. Cass and crew are headed to DC on November 16th to protest the Hate Crimes Act in front of the Department of Justice. Their tactic?
Celebs and unknowns got ready for their close-ups in these shots from a forthcoming book by photographer John Russo called About Face. Russo used type 55 Polaroid film and used natural light. More, AFTER THE JUMP... According to the publisher:...
Saying the University of Alabama Birmingham's policy of offering health benefits to same-sx partners runs counter to the state's ban on same-sex marriage, state lawmaker DuWayne Bridges has been gathering support for a proposal to block the benefits, the Birmingham...
On Wednesday I posted about an attack on Here Media and The Advocate by former editor Judy Wieder. Wieder pulled the original (which was published on November 2 at 3:51 pm) and posted a new version two days later, saying...
This is a guest post by Vanessa Edwards Foster. Vanessa Edwards Foster, a longtime activist, is co-founder and current President of the National Transgender Advocacy Coalition (NTAC), a grassroots coalition of transgender Americans who are politically active and lobby locally, statewide and at the national level.
Vanessa was also the first trans individual ever elected President of a chapter of a National Women's Political Caucus (NWPC) for Harris County in her home, Houston TX. Vanessa is a half-white/half-native transgender woman; she was an Obama delegate in 2008--returning to the Democratic National Convention as a delegate for a second time.
At a press conference yesterday, Fort Worth police chief Jeff Halstead announced that a chapter was being closed in discussing investigations related to the June raid on the Rainbow Lounge: "Speaking at a news conference across from the bar, chief...
One of the most effective tactics of the religious right is to truncate an incident to claim that lgbts are violent and intolerant or that Christians are in danger of losing their rights if pro-lgbt legislation passes.
We've seen it in the case the group Repent America who was arrested at a Pride festival after they wouldn't comply with police. Religious right grous made it seem that they were unfairly arrested.
Here Media CEO Paul Colichman sheds some light on changes at The Advocate in a letter posted on the publication's website, revealing that The Advocate and OUT will now be sent jointly and subscribers will receive both publications: As the...
The Washington Secretary of State's final vote count 
A new organization called 
NATHANIEL ROGERS Nathaniel would live inside a movie theater but for the poor internet reception. He blogs daily at the Film Experience. YOUR FEATURE PRESENTATION You're barely a reel into Lee Daniel's Precious (based on the novel Push by Sapphire)...
Email reveals deception on the part of the DNC with regard to assistance of Question 1 in Maine and lies about directing Mainers to vote for progressive causes. Jon Hamm in high school. What does Maine's marriage loss mean to...
This is a guest post by 
Although there were no transgender witnesses at yesterday's ENDA hearings, Senator Jeff Merkley (D-OR) made sure transgender voices were heard. Retired U.S. Army Col. Diane Schroer and Earline Budd spoke at a press conference before the ENDA hearings yesterday. Officer...
OLYMPIA, Wash. (AP)
In a scene identical to the one he used to punk Paula Abdul, Bruno degrades the gardeners by having them serve as furniture for a Pete Rose interview, and then rolls out the human sushi platter. Abdul wisely fled the...
Celebs and unknowns got ready for their close-ups in these shots from a forthcoming book by photographer John Russo called About Face. Russo used type 55 Polaroid film and used natural light. More, AFTER THE JUMP... According to the publisher:...
Saying the University of Alabama Birmingham's policy of offering health benefits to same-sx partners runs counter to the state's ban on same-sex marriage, state lawmaker DuWayne Bridges has been gathering support for a proposal to block the benefits, the Birmingham...
On Wednesday I posted about an attack on Here Media and The Advocate by former editor Judy Wieder. Wieder pulled the original (which was published on November 2 at 3:51 pm) and posted a new version two days later, saying...
At a press conference yesterday, Fort Worth police chief Jeff Halstead announced that a chapter was being closed in discussing investigations related to the June raid on the Rainbow Lounge: "Speaking at a news conference across from the bar, chief...
Here Media CEO Paul Colichman sheds some light on changes at The Advocate in a letter posted on the publication's website, revealing that The Advocate and OUT will now be sent jointly and subscribers will receive both publications: As the...
