Thank T-Mobile!

Late last month, we were excited to announce that T-Mobile officially endorsed approving Referendum 74 in November by making a $25,000 to our campaign.

T-Mobile, one of WA’s leading companies, and one of several corporate leaders throughout the state who are supporting marriage equality because they know that approving Referendum 74 is good for business (Click here to read more about business support for Referendum 74).

But yesterday, the anti-gay National Organization for Marriage launched a boycott of T-Mobile, attacking the cell phone company for fighting for the freedom to marry here in Washington.

That’s why today, we launched our Thank You card to let T-Mobile know that the majority of Washingtonians stand with them in supporting marriage for same-sex couples.

It’s crucial that we let those who stand with us know that we’ll stand with them, too. Click here to sign the card and then be sure to share it with your friends on Facebook and Twitter.

Posted by sylvia | September 11, 2012

Marriage Equality Highlights from DNC Convention

In case you missed it:

Posted by sylvia | September 10, 2012

Raising Millions for Marriage: A message from Lacey

Lacey All is campaign chairwoman of Washington United for Marriage.

We here at Washington United for Marriage are extremely excited about our Raising Millions for Marriage program. Raising Millions for Marriage is an online fundraising tool designed to help people reach out to their social networks.

Supporters of the freedom to marry live all across the country, and they have friends and family in all corners of the world. If you want to defend the freedom to marry in Washington, it’s likely you know someone who wants to help.

Raising Millions for Marriage provides an easy to use platform to reach out to these people. It only takes a few minutes to register, and then you can start contacting your friends and family immediately.

Even better, all the content on the page and the emails can be customized - allowing you to tell your story.

You can also create a team, or join someone else’s. Team fundraising on Millions for Marriage allows people to unite with their co-workers, friends, and congregations. Raising Millions for Marriage has already been used successfully for weddings, house parties, and faith events across the state. Imagine what you could do with your next event!

Raising Millions for Marriage has seen a huge increase in registrations in the last month. There are now more than 400 people signed up, with more than $260,000 raised!

We know once we get as many people as possible sharing their stories and asking for donations, then we’ll be on the path to well over a million dollars. We need to reach 1,000 registrants in September, and we know we can do it with your help. If you have not registered, please take a few moments to do so now.

Once signed up share it with your friends and family, post it on your Facebook page, and tell everyone why the freedom to marry is so important to you.

Finally, think of other people in your life who you know would love to be a part of this historic campaign, and ask them to join Raising Millions for Marriage. Together, we can harness the power of our friends and family to Raise Millions to support the fight to defend marriage equality in Washington.

Thanks a Million,

Lacey

Posted by sylvia | September 7, 2012

The Conscience of a Catholic Senator

Washington State Senator Debbie Regala shares the personal journey that led her to the decision to leave her home parish after her vote in support of Washington’s historic bi-partisan marriage equality legislation.

Via: Crosscut

“Referendum 74 is not about the Catholic definition of sacramental marriage. It’s a civil rights issue and a legal issue. All couples should have the civil right and the privilege to make the same public statement of their love and commitment to each other. And one of my disappointments is that the Catholic Church chose to insert itself into this battle.”

Posted by sylvia | September 7, 2012

Women’s Week: NARAL Pro-Choice Washington

Jennifer N. Brown

“NARAL Pro-Choice Washington proudly supports full marriage equality and the campaign to Approve Referendum 74. Everyone should have the right to marry the person they love and build strong and healthy families.”

— Jennifer N. Brown, executive director of NARAL Pro-Choice Washington

Posted by sylvia | September 5, 2012

Women’s Week: Planned Parenthood Votes NW

Jen Ham with US Senator Amy Klobuchar (D-Minnesota)

Why I support Referendum 74
by Jen Ham

I am proud to work for an organization that supports [marriage] equality. Planned Parenthood Votes Northwest (PPVNW) is an independent, nonprofit, nonpartisan advocacy organization educating Alaska, Idaho, Washington and policy-makers about reproductive health issues.

We support equality under the law, and access to social services for all families regardless of race, ethnicity, income, gender or sexual orientation. That is why we support Approving Referendum 74— because we support strong families.

We firmly believe that all people should be able to determine the course of their lives, and we are glad to be part of a movement that supports the same principle. Our mission includes protecting and promoting the health of all families, no matter their makeup. We are proud to stand behind the many men, women and families seeking to make a lifetime commitment to the person they love, and protect their families.

This November, our field team in Washington is pulling out all the stops to make sure that the freedom to marry is available to all in Washington, and we WILL Approve Ref. 74!

Jen Ham is a Community Organizer for Planned Parenthood Votes Northwest. She is a graduate of Central Washington University, was a member of the 2006 Soulforce Equality Ride, and loves Star Trek. She lives in Ellensburg with Joanna, her supportive partner of almost nine years, their dog, and their four unsupportive cats.

Posted by sylvia | September 4, 2012

Expedia, Inc. Statement of Support: Sept. 4, 2012

Expedia Inc. President and CEO Dara Khosrowshahi

Expedia, Inc. Stands in Support of Marriage Equality

As the world’s largest online travel company – with operations in well over 30 countries – we know firsthand that the world is a diverse place. Much like our customers, clients, partners, and suppliers, our employees represent a multitude of locations, cultures, and experiences. We encourage Expedians to bring their collective intelligence and myriad skills to work every day to make travel more accessible for our customers. As such, we are committed to creating a workplace environment in which everyone thrives.

We strive to actively promote equality in our workplace and are committed to treating one another with respect and dignity. Part of our overall diversity efforts is providing a supportive environment for our Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Transgender (LGBT) employees.

Today, we add our voice to the topic of marriage equality. We thoughtfully engage in this public discussion because it has a significant impact on our employees, customers, and partners, all with whom we interact daily. Supporting the legislation recently passed in Washington State – which provides same-sex couples with the same right to civil marriage that opposite-sex couples already enjoy – is a natural extension of our ongoing commitment to the LGBT community.

Therefore, Expedia, Inc. is proud to declare support of marriage equality for same-sex couples everywhere.

Respectfully,
Dara Khosrowshahi - President/CEO, Expedia, Inc.

Posted by sylvia | September 4, 2012

Union Week: Meet Erin Leary

Name: Erin Leary
City: Seattle, WA
Occupation: Nurse
Union affiliation: SEIU 1199

As a mother, a health care professional and a long-time domestic partner, Erin Leary is one of many faces of our campaign. Her support and her story a touching reminder of the reason we all support Referendum 74.

“When you support marriage equality, you support families,” Erin said. “People get married because they want to be a family. They don’t want to do it for financial benefits; they want to devote themselves to each other as a family. To me, [supporting Ref 74] is just supporting people being in a family.”

And Erin wants others to feel the same way.

“The domestic partnership…it just doesn’t really say you’re committed. It doesn’t give you the same benefits as a marriage gives you. People say, ‘you’re married,’ and you don’t have to explain it any more. They get it.”

Erin, her son, and her partner Michael Scott – a manger at Cobalt, are a family. And like so many other families, they want to be validated, recognized by their community. Like so many others, Erin and her partner want the freedom to marry.

So come November, they’ll be voting to Approve Referendum 74. They’ll be voting to support their community and they’ll be voting to support their family.

Because in the end, it’s about family.

Posted by sylvia | September 2, 2012

Union Week: Photo of the Day

Featuring United Auto Wokers Local 4121 at the Wednesday union phone bank:

Posted by sylvia | August 31, 2012

Quote of the Day: August 30, 2012

From Scott Shiflett, a meatcutter from Mt. Vernon, WA and member of UFCW 21:

“…Freedom is really whatR-74 is about. I hope you will support R-74 and the freedom of people to marry whom they love. I know I do. And I can’t imagine anyone, including the state, telling me that I could not have married my wife.”

Posted by sylvia | August 30, 2012