A Heartbreaking Example with Seniors

In a heart-breaking example of why domestic partnerships are important for seniors and other domestic partners, Pam's House Blend and The Atlantic tell the tragic story of an older couple who, in 2007, took a cruise with their four children to celebrate eighteen years together.

• One partner suffered a stroke before the ship left port
• They were immediately taken to a hospital
• Power of attorney forms were faxed to allow visitation
• The hospital refused to allow her loved ones to see her
• A priest intervened to allow attendance at the last rites
  
• The woman died eighteen hours after admission
  

A federal judge ruled that the hospital had no obligation to grant visitors of any sort, but can you imagine that the hospital would have dared do this to a married couple with children?

According to a press release, the court ruled that “the hospital has neither an obligation to allow their patients’ visitors nor any obligation whatsoever to provide their patients’ families, healthcare surrogates, or visitors with access to patients in their trauma unit.”

As a strictly legal matter, that may be true (the decision can still be appealed). But as a moral matter, it is appalling. Hospitals came into being because of human compassion for illness and suffering. Whatever their legal obligations, preventing a woman from seeing her dying partner until the priest arrives to deliver Last Rites is a level of cruelty that should go down in the annals of depravity.

As comments to the above commentary by David Link note, can you imagine any hospital doing this to a straight couple? This is the sort of situation where domestic partnership rights matter, to individuals, couples, children and families.

Approve Referendum 71.

Seniors and Referendum 71

Although opponents of Referendum 71 try to portray it as a "gay" issue, the more relevant demographics may be related to age, since opposite-sex couples over 62 may enter into a domestic partnership and initial data on the first 5000-plus couples to register show that over half are couples over 50.

The Washington Sate Senior Citizen's Lobby represents over two dozen separate agencies and has endorsed Referendum 71, as have other senior groups such as the Senior Services Area Agency on Aging. The article "Straight Seniors Rely on Domestic Partnerships," addresses many of the reasons why.

"Heterosexual seniors who are registered as domestic partners in the state are all but lost in the loud, escalating debate over Referendum 71," writes Lornett Trumbull. As covered by The Seattle Times, John Boehrer and Lynn Elmore registered as domestic partners years ago for reasons that will be familiar to many senior citizens. Both in their sixties, she would stand to lose certain benefits if she remarried, and many widowed seniors are in a similar position. Seniors can often lose pensions or health care if they remarry, and those eligible to collect retirement benefits based on a former spouse's Social Security record automatically lose them upon marrying. Once lost, those benefits can never be regained, even if the second marriage ends immediately from either death or divorce.

Other benefits which accrue to domestic partners include

• Certain domestic violence statutes apply
• Visitation rights when a domestic partner is hospitalized
• Informed-consent rights when one partner is incapacitated
  
• Ability to receive health information about the other partner
• Legal right to use sick leave to care for one another
• Normal access to community-property laws within the state
  
• Certain property transfers between partners are not taxed
  
• Financial security around jointly-owned property or businesses
• Rights to unpaid wages upon death
• Inheritance rights and executor rights if a partner dies without a will
• Certain nursing-home visitation, cemetery, autopsy and organ-donation rights
• Unemployment and disability insurance benefits

Although opponents of domestic-partnership laws try to make everything about sex, the law as clearly written is about basic household arrangements, clearly requiring that both parties share a common residence, unlike conventional marriage, although domestic partnerships between those who are more closely related than second cousins are not allowed.

For more information on the law, one may consult the Secretary of State's web page or Wikipedia.

One may also download a one-page flyer on domestic partnerships and Referendum 71 from Approve71.org

Referendum 71 Handouts

One of the things that modern computer technology makes possible is the rapid creation and distribution of printed material, such as stickers and flyers. Anyone can create a pamphlet on their home computer, buy pre-sized labels at an office-supply or variety store, and easily create materials that would have cost hundreds of dollars to produce just a decade ago. Below are quick links to a variety of forms available at the Approve71.org web site and other places.

Currently in use at the Vancouver Farmer's Market

• Pledge forms to identify local pro-71 voters
• Four-to-a-page, double-sided "palm cards"
• Full-color placard, such as for your car window
• A similar placard in a black-and-white "ink saver" version
• Six Simple Things You Can Do flyer (half-page version)
  

Also of interest

• Organizational endorsement form for your church or civic group
• Avery 5163 2"x4" Approve 71 stickers for printing on label sheets
• "Protect All Families" full-page handout
• Similar material designed for a half-page, double-sided
• Double-sided, partial listing of supporters
• Statewide newspaper editorial support for Referendum 71
• Exact language of the ballot "What Voters Will See" flyer
• English and Spanish "What Is the Domestic Partnership Law" flyers
  

First Congregational Church, Vancouver

The First Congregational Church in Hazel Dell is known to many locals as "the Noah's ark church" for its distinctive shape at the top of a ridge, overlooking the entire city from 1220 NE 68th Street in Vancouver, 98665. An open and affirming, just church in the progressive Christian tradition, they are organized on a congregationalist model and affiliated with the United Church of Christ.

A coalition partner in support of Referendum 71, they are also members of the Community of Welcoming Congregations, part of a long tradition for them. First Congregational was one of the first racially integrated churches in Clark County, back in the 1950's, and in 1973 named Rev Anne Smith as associate pastor, one of the first female ordained ministers in the area. The first "open and affirming" mainstream church in the county, their mission of social justice continues today, including engagement around issues of peace and health care in the third world.

Sunday services are at 10:00 am, with childcare provided.

Decoy Talking Points

As any hunter knows, trickery is an excellent tactic. This is why duck hunters frequently set up decoys that look like ducks, to confuse their prey and make real ducks confused and more vulnerable. Opponents of Referendum 71 have their own decoys, which initially sound like arguments. There is not much meat to them, though, and those that aren't plainly false ring hollow when struck. Below then, for your election enjoyment, is a quick review of talking points and other falsehoods by those who would have you deny domestic partnership protection to Washington seniors and same-sex couples this fall. Don't take any wooden nickels!

Decoy 1: Referendum 71 is really about "gay marriage."

Studies by opponents of Referendum 71 show that the phrase "gay marriage" has decreasingly negative connotations for many voters, while surveys by Washington research universities show majority support for domestic partnerships across most of the political spectrum. The official ballot title explicitly says that "a domestic partnership is not a marriage." Referendum 71 is about domestic partnerships, both for same-sex couples and heterosexual couples where one member is 62 or older, which is why the Washington Senior Lobby supports Referendum 71.

Decoy 2: Referendum 71 abolishes "husband" and "wife" as legal terms.

For purposes of domestic partnerships, gender neutrality is applied. This is to "protect" those terms within traditional heterosexual marriage and also to make the laws equitable to both members of a domestic partnership, whether they are of the same gender or seniors. Again, this helps protect seniors, many of whom may lose health coverage or retirement benefits.

Decoy 3: Referendum 71 will expose the state to frivolous lawsuits.

The lawsuit most frequently cited as likely to emerge is an objection to the federal "Defense of Marriage Act," but this issue was brought and settled years ago, in Andersen v. King County, as described in an official court press release from 2006. Those who wish may even listen to audio of the case at the court's web site.

Decoy 4: Referendum 71 will deny children two parents of opposite genders.

Referendum 71 is about domestic partnerships and most currently-registered domestic partners, whether seniors or members of the same sex, do not have children at all. While it may be ideal for all children to have a large, supportive and diverse family, domestic partnership law cannot guarantee this. What the law does do (when a same-sex parent dies) is make it easier for children to stay with the surviving parent who has helped raise them, rather than be assigned automatically to foster care or some other, more distant person. Details of moral rectitude and family life for Referendum 71 sponsors and representatives may be found elsewhere.

Decoy 5: Referendum 71 will enact severe "hate-speech" laws with strong prison sentences.

Nothing in Referendum 71 touches on constitutional guarantees of free speech or exercise of religion in any way.

Decoy 6: Referendum 71 will force schools to teach homosexuality as "normal."

Nothing in Referendum 71 touches on educational policy in any way. Neither shall public schools be forced to teach students about straight senior citizens having sex.

Decoy 7: Referendum 71 will weaken existing, traditional marriages.

Referendum 71 upholds a law explicitly designed not to affect traditional marriage in any way, as evident by the language on the ballot title itself. Domestic partnerships are restricted to same-sex couples who may NOT marry under Washington state law and couples where one partner is 62 or older. This protects the health and retirement benefits some seniors enjoy, which is one of the reasons that on July 20, the Washington State Senior Citizens Lobby endorsed the domestic partnership law. Referendum 71 does nothing to liberalize existing laws on marriage or divorce.

Don't fall for the decoys. Read the ballot title for yourself.

With campaign season upon us, educate yourself by reviewing campaign materials and web sites such as Approve71.org.

And be sure not to take any wooden nickels.

Quack, quack!

Must be Present to Win

This morning Equal Rights Washington announced poll results that show a bare 51% approval for Referendum 71, well within the margin of error. Although a recent poll by the Western Washington University and the University of Washington shows increasing, majority support for domestic partnerships, it is not majorities that decide elections but voters. It is crucial that supporters of domestic partnerships not only volunteer, donate and educate their neighbors, but that ballots are completed and mailed.

The opponents of domestic partnership for seniors and same-sex couples understand quite well that they have a very small window in which to try and deny equality before the law. As detailed in an analysis at ReligiousTolerance.org, they must misrepresent the issue and turn out their "base" in opposition immediately, in the face of growing support. This referendum, in an off-year election, is their best hope.

Evangelical "social conservatives" are objectively better at turning out voters for off-year elections than mainstream voters. Mail-in elections tend to have higher turnouts than poll-only elections, however, and so supporters of domestic partnership rights for unmarried seniors and same-sex domestic partners relies upon mainstream voters simply sending in their ballots.

Ballots for Referendum 71 will be sent out mid-October and are due by November 3. Approve 71 Vancouver shall have stamps available at our Farmer's Market table during October, because it is vital that mainstream voters show their support for Referendum 71 and Washington domestic partners.

Those of us who purchase charity raffle tickets may have noticed that often the prizes are only available to those who show up. As expressed on the tickets for less important matters, we "must be present to win."

Referendum 71 is like that too, so please be sure that you and your neighbors get your ballots in immediately to protect domestic partners by approving Referendum 71.

Letter of the Week by Marti Leviel

Please vote to approve Referendum 71. I'm not sure why anyone would oppose it. It is not about gay marriage. In fact, it's really not about gay anything.

There are more than 5,000 registered domestic partnerships throughout Washington - covering every county. Some of the 5,000 partnerships are gay families and some are not. Some are older couples who would lose money or benefits. What is to be gained, and by whom, if we deny these families rights and responsibilities? In my opinion, no one.

Please vote yes on Referendum 71.

Marti Leviel

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Write your own letter to

• The Columbian, Letters from Readers, PO Box 180, Vancouver 98666
  
• The Reflector, PO Box 2020, Battle Ground 98604
• The Oregonian, 1320 SW Broadway, Portland OR 97201
• With WAFST's online letter-writing tool

Ten Simple Things You Can Do

	Phone bank at a call center to spread the word. If you live outside the Seattle/Tacoma Metropolitan area, sign up here to phone bank from home.
	Donate online to support the Approve 71 campaign (or write a check payable to Washington Families Standing Together, and mail it to: Washington Families Standing Together, 603 Stewart St Suite 819, Seattle, WA 98101).
	Change your Facebook photo to the Approve 71 icon and talk about Approving 71 in your status messages. If you run a website or blog, please link to Approve71.org with both a text and graphic link. This will be a big help to the campaign to create awareness for the site.
	Link to Approve 71 from your email signature.
	Change your voicemail message to tell your friends and family to Approve Referendum 71.
	Print out and distribute informative handouts from our website.
	Buy Ref71 Gear such as yardsigns, buttons, T-shirts and bumperstickers at the online Approve 71 Cafe Press store.
	Help win over public opinion by writing a Letter to the Editor telling your story, and why your neighbors should Approve Referendum 71. Get started using our online letter writing tool.
	Ask the President or the Board of Directors of any organization in which you are a member to endorse the Washington Families Standing Together Approve 71 campaign using this link.
	Talk to all your friends, family members and neighbors about the importance of voting to Approve Referendum 71. Think of how many people you interact with everyday, and think of how many conversations you can have about Ref 71. Ask people to take the pledge to Approve Referendum 71, and forward this e-mail to them so we can remind them to vote.

For more great things you can do check out:

WWW.APPROVE71.ORG

Facebook icons are under Spread the Word at the top, and handouts are under Handouts on the right.

UW Poll Confirms Majority Support for Partnerships

Earlier this year The Stranger ran an article with provocative title "Poll Accidentally Show Gay Marriage Gaining Ground." Released by the Faith and Freedom Network. Known as "the Elway poll," it claimed to show that the majority of Washingtonians objected to "gay marriage" and would vote that way in November. Unfortunately for opponents of domestic partnership, however, the poll showed support for full marriage equality was rising.

Referendum 71 is not about marriage, though, but domestic partnerships. Referendum 71 affirms domestic partnerships for ALL registered couples, be they of the same gender or heterosexual couples where one or both partners is 62 or older. The issue for older couples, as many know from personal experience, is that "marriage" often cuts into health and retirement benefits "inherited" when a previous spouse died.

A University of Washington poll earlier this month showed a steady growth in support for domestic partnerships over the past few years, and indeed a two-to-one preference for recognition of domestic partnerships.

Washington State politics are noted for the number of individuals who identify as political independents or moderates. The people in the middle of a variety of demographic categories are full domestic partnership supporters. For example, 63.8 percent of political independents and 77.9 percent of ideological moderates are full domestic partnership supporters.

The web site Religious Tolerance has an interesting analysis of this which basically asserts that the only way for opponents of domestic partnerships to "win" at the polls is through explicit and consistent disinformation, designed to suppress the number of voters or make independents and ideological moderates confused about what the referendum actually says

The most effective advertising technique by those opposed to equal rights for same-sex couples would be to portray the referendum as having nothing to do with domestic partnerships. They could try to convince voters that it is a vote for or against same-sex marriage.

Key things for those who affirm the rights of domestic partnerships (both for seniors and others) to focus on are

1. Explicit language in the ballot title that "a domestic partnership is not a marriage"
2. That domestic partnerships allow heterosexual seniors to protect retirement income
3. Same-sex partners may enter into domestic partnerships which are not marriages but
4. Most of the so-called "benefits" of partnership apply only in case of illness or death

Whatever one may think of same-sex civil rights, almost every Washington voter presumably hopes to live past 62 and be involved in some sort of long-term loving relationship. Domestic partnerships as affirmed in Referendum 71 provide a clear way for all of us to assure ourselves a more just and secure future.

Please make sure that your friends know to send in their mail-in allots immediately and APPROVE Referendum 71.

Links

• http://slog.thestranger.com/slog/archives/2009/04/27/poll-accidentally-shows-gay-marriage-gaining-ground
• http://www.faithandfreedom.us/weblog/2009/04/elway-results-on-marriage-in-washington.html
• http://www.faithandfreedom.us/pdf/F&FReport_Elway_2009.pdf
• http://www.washingtonpoll.org
• http://www.washingtonpoll.org/pdf/same_sex.pdf
• http://www.religioustolerance.org/hommarrwa8.htm
  

Community of Welcoming Congregations

Although many of the groups who sponsored Referendum 71 identify themselves as religious, there are also many groups in our area who are working for basic fairness and a more inclusive view of religion and spirituality. The Community of Welcoming Congregations is one such group, identifying itself as an "interfaith ministry and association of religious and spiritual communities working for the full inclusion and equality of transgender, lesbian, gay and bisexual persons." Presumably they also welcome heterosexual domestic partners as well.

In addition to sponsoring workshops on topics such as "homosexuality in the Bible" and helping other people of good faith to reconsider less tolerant religious views, CWC is also active in providing outreach and social services to all people, including youth opportunities for young and religious gays, support for those exiting the "ex-gay" movement and general social services around suicide prevention from a religious and spiritual perspective.

For a list of current members in Welcoming Congregations, please visit their web site at WelcomingCongregations.org

Letter of the Week from Nola Leyd

Reprinted from The Olympian, September 18, 2009.

Referendum 71 Is All about Fairness

I have been a lifetime Washingtonian. Though I have traveled the world, this is the state my family has called home since the 1850s.

I am a conservative. I work hard and believe everyone should work and earn their way. I have a strong belief in God and enjoy a country that provides freedom for our religious beliefs.

I believe in family as the most important part of our lives; we must be there for our children and their children. I have supported my country in good times and bad — spending more than a year in Iraq and supporting recovery here in the U.S. in time of floods and hurricanes. My partner is not covered while I am gone, and if something happens to me, I worry about my family.

I have been overjoyed by the few protections we have gotten in the past few years. I was humbled by the state’s expansion of the rights and sadden by those that see it as a threat to their families.

Please join me and my family in approving Referendum 71.

It shows the respect and love of all families that this great state has for everyone. It is the spirit of Washington. We don’t have to share the same beliefs, but we should all support the liberty that this great country provides to all and extend that fairness to all of Washington’s families.

Approve fairness to all — approve Referendum 71.

NOLA LEYDE, Yelm

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Write your own letter to

• The Columbian, Letters from Readers, PO Box 180, Vancouver 98666
  
• The Reflector, PO Box 2020, Battle Ground 98604
• The Oregonian, 1320 SW Broadway, Portland OR 97201
• With WAFST's online letter-writing tool
  

YWCA Phone Banking Mon/Wed/Thu 21-24 Sep 09

Did you know you can telephone supporters of Referendum 71 and help get out the vote from the privacy of your own home? For more information please visit the "phone home" link at http://approvereferendum71.org/phonehome



For those with a more social streak, we are also happy to begin group phone banks, right here in Vancouver. Volunteers who can swing by and/or bring snacks for our intrepid volunteers are encourage to swing by.

YWCA of Clark County
3609 Main Street
Vancouver WA 98663

Group phone banking shall begin this week at the Vancouver YWCA from 5-8 pm Monday through Friday, and 3-8pm on Saturday. For this first week of phone banking we are asking that folks please bring a laptop and cell phone. If someone has a lead on an office where we might phone bank from wired "land-line" telephones, please contact Rory@Approve71Vancouver.org or let state field manager Darci Larsen know at (206) 324-2570.

Large Window Signs for Businesses

Field manager Darci Larsen has sent down a small stack of the larger (17"x22") color "Approve Referendum 71" banners as above, which we would like to distribute to businesses or others in high-profile locations. Only a few hundred of these were printed by a private donor, so we'll want to put them in excellent locations (such as the front windows of businesses). If you think that you have a good home for these banners, please comment below and we'll get you one or two as long as supplies last.

We are also looking at getting some 11"x17" vertical signs for business supporters and would like volunteers to try and place these in appropriate businesses. If you would be interested in doing this, please comment below or email Rory@Approve71Vancouver.org so we know approximately how many to print.

A brief reminder that we will be holding weekly meetings Saturdays at 8:30 am in the Vancouver Marketplace atrium just behind Java House, up the street from Esther Short Park on Columbia at 200 West Evergreen Blvd. These will help us coordinate things for farmer's market tabling and distribute pledge forms and literature, as well as schedule phone banking and other outreach.

Thank you to volunteers who have already stepped up to print materials, table and begin phoning your friends and neighbors. It is our dedicated efforts on the ground that will encourage Clark County to APPROVE Referendum 71.

Personal Phone Banking to Your Circle of Influence

Until we can secure a dedicated local phone bank, people can begin "personal phone banking" by telephoning their friends and others within their "circle of influence" to make them aware of Referendum 71 and why it is so important to vote to protect domestic partnerships by APPROVING Referendum 71.



Some points to emphasize:

• This is an off-year election, making turnout especially crucial
• It is important to vote immediately upon receiving your mail-in ballot
• Domestic partnerships are explicitly NOT marriage
• Domestic partners must be at least 62 years old or of the same sex
• Most benefits apply only in cases of medical emergency or death

Please encourage those who enthusiastically support Referendum 71 to visit Approve71.org and consider signing up to volunteer here in Clark County. Outreach to seniors and faith groups is especially important.

If each of us commits to making just ten phone calls each day until our main phone banks are up, this will put us hundreds of phone calls ahead, as well as reconnecting us with people we know. Tell the personal stories you know of seniors or others who were unable to help their loved ones, businesses that were disrupted, houses lost or children whose were complicated after losing one of their parents. It is the fairness and humanity of this law that are most important, and personal outreach to our individual circles of influence is a great place to start.

Farmers Market Tabling

Informational tabling at area farmers markets will begin this Saturday with the Vancouver Farmers Market. Anyone interested in volunteering or tabling is encouraged to visit the Google group for volunteers at http://groups.google.com/group/approve71vancouver

People who are willing to speak to their community groups, churches and help provide outreach at other public events are also needed. Just let us know what you would most like to do, are best at and would be willing to do.

Most of our work will be focused on alerting allies to the importance of voting in this election to preserve domestic partnerships by voting to APPROVE REFERENDUM 71.

Farmers market and other tabling will expand as we have the volunteers to do so.

Initial Meeting at YWCA Vancouver, 6-7:30

The initial meeting with Darci of Washington Families Standing Together will take place at the Vancouver YWCA from 6-7:30 pm on Monday, 14 September 2009.

YWCA Vancouver is at 3609 Main Street, Vancouver WA 98663.

For more information, please visit http://approvereferendum71.org

Handouts are available at http://approvereferendum71.org/handouts

Columbian editorial in support of Referendum 71 at http://www.columbian.com/article/20090906/OPINION02/709069992