2012 Washington Referendum 74

The ballot title read as follows:{{cite web |title=Proposed Referendum Measures 2012 |publisher=Washington State Secretary of State |date=March 13, 2012 |url=http://www.sos.wa.gov/elections/initiatives/referendum.aspx?y=2012 |access-date=March 13, 2012}}

{{blockquote|The legislature passed Engrossed Substitute Senate Bill 6239 concerning marriage for same-sex couples, modified domestic-partnership law, and religious freedom, and voters have filed a sufficient referendum petition on this bill.

This bill would allow same-sex couples to marry, preserve domestic partnerships only for seniors, and preserve the right of clergy or religious organizations to refuse to perform, recognize, or accommodate any marriage ceremony.

Should this bill be:

Approved [ ]

Rejected [ ]}}

The following summary accompanied the ballot measure:

{{blockquote|This bill allows same-sex couples to marry, applies marriage laws without regard to gender, and specifies that laws using gender-specific terms like husband and wife include same-sex spouses. After 2014, existing domestic partnerships are converted to marriages, except for seniors. It preserves the right of clergy or religious organizations to refuse to perform or recognize any marriage or accommodate wedding ceremonies. The bill does not affect licensing of religious organizations providing adoption, foster-care, or child-placement.}}

{{main|Same-sex marriage in Washington state}}

Title 26 of the Revised Code of Washington, entitled "domestic relations", governs marriage in Washington state.{{cite web

| title =Title 26 RCW: Domestic relations

| work =Revised Code of Washington

| publisher =Washington State Legislature

| date =February 13, 2012

| url =http://apps.leg.wa.gov/rcw/default.aspx?cite=26

| access-date = August 26, 2012}} A 2012 bill, Senate Bill 6239, would legalize same-sex marriage and convert into a marriage on June 30, 2014, any undissolved state registered domestic partnership that does not involve at least one party aged 62 years or older.[http://apps.leg.wa.gov/documents/billdocs/2011-12/Pdf/Bills/Senate%20Passed%20Legislature/6239-S.PL.pdf Section 10 of Engrossed Substitute Senate Bill 6239, Washington State Legislature]{{cite web

|author=Senators Murray, Pflug, Hobbs, Litzow, Kohl-Welles, Ranker, Tom, Harper, Pridemore, Keiser, Kline, Regala, Eide, Rolfes, McAuliffe, Brown, Nelson, Chase, Fraser, Frockt, Conway, Kilmer, and Prentice; by request of Governor Gregoire

| title =Senate Bill 6239

| publisher =State of Washington 62nd Legislature 2012 Regular Session

| date =January 16, 2012

| url =http://apps.leg.wa.gov/documents/billdocs/2011-12/Pdf/Bills/Senate%20Bills/6239.pdf

| access-date = August 26, 2012}} It also would add language in Section 26.04.010 exempting religious organizations from any requirement to "provide accommodations, facilities, advantages, privileges, services, or goods related to the solemnization or celebration of a marriage".{{cite web

| title =Marriage contract — Void marriages — Construction of gender specific terms — Recognition of solemnization of marriage not required. (Effective if Referendum 74 is approved at the November 2012 general election.)

| work = RCW 26.04 Marriage

| publisher =Washington State Legislature

| date =February 13, 2012

| url =http://apps.leg.wa.gov/rcw/default.aspx?cite=26.04&full=true#26.04.010

| access-date = August 26, 2012}} Governor Christine Gregoire signed the engrossed bill on February 13.{{cite web |url=http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/localnews/2017497028_gaymarriage14m.html |title=Gregoire signs gay marriage into law |date=February 13, 2012 |access-date=February 13, 2012}} The bill was scheduled to take effect June 7 – 90 days after the legislative session — but opponents submitted on June 6 the necessary signatures to suspend the bill and require a statewide voter referendum.{{cite web |url=http://blog.seattlepi.com/seattlepolitics/2012/02/08/house-approves-same-sex-marriage/ |title=Washington state House approves same-sex marriage |work=Seattle Post Intelligencer |date=February 8, 2012 |access-date=February 9, 2012}}{{cite web |url=http://usnews.msnbc.msn.com/_news/2012/02/01/10294578-washington-state-senate-approves-same-sex-marriage-bill |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120202041745/http://usnews.msnbc.msn.com/_news/2012/02/01/10294578-washington-state-senate-approves-same-sex-marriage-bill |url-status=dead |archive-date=February 2, 2012 |title=Washington State Senate approves same-sex marriage |publisher=MSNBC |date=February 1, 2012}}[http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/06/06/washington-gay-marriage-referendum_n_1574608.html "Washington Gay Marriage Law Blocked As Opponents Submit Signatures For Referendum", Huffington Post, reported by Mike Baker, Associated Press, June 6, 2012] On June 12, the Washington secretary of state announced that they had submitted enough signatures to place the referendum on the ballot for the November general election.[http://www.oregonlive.com/pacific-northwest-news/index.ssf/2012/06/washington_gay_marriage_refere.html "Gay marriage referendum 74 makes Washington ballot", OregonLive, reported by the Associated Press, June 12, 2012]

Statements for and against the bill were available online as part of the official online voter's guide for the referendum.{{cite web|title=Online Voter's Guide|publisher=Washington State Secretary of State|year=2012|url=https://wei.sos.wa.gov/agency/osos/en/press_and_research/PreviousElections/2012/General-Election/Pages/Online-Voters-Guide.aspx|access-date=September 10, 2012|archive-date=March 29, 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130329073820/https://wei.sos.wa.gov/agency/osos/en/press_and_research/PreviousElections/2012/General-Election/Pages/Online-Voters-Guide.aspx|url-status=dead}} Per Section 42.17A on "campaign disclosure and contribution", the Washington state Public Disclosure Commission posted campaign information online, including information for referendums and initiatives, showing seven groups registered for approval of the bill and one against.{{cite web| title =Continuing Political Committees| publisher =Public Disclosure Commission| year =2012| url =http://www.pdc.wa.gov/MvcViewReports/Committee/initiative_committees| access-date =August 22, 2012| archive-date =September 7, 2013| archive-url =https://web.archive.org/web/20130907101724/http://www.pdc.wa.gov/MvcViewReports/Committee/initiative_committees| url-status =dead}} Of these, Washington United for Marriage (WUM) and Preserve Marriage Washington were the most active, for and against the bill, respectively.

WUM lists "a coalition of more than 500 organizations and businesses" on its website.{{cite web| title =Coalition Partners| publisher =Washington United for Marriage | year =2012| url =http://washingtonunitedformarriage.org/coalition-partners/| access-date = August 22, 2012}} Amazon's Jeff Bezos and his then-wife pledged $2.5 million to support the same-sex marriage law.{{cite news |work=New York Times |title=Amazon's Founder Pledges $2.5 Million in Support of Same-Sex Marriage| author=Michael D. Shear |date=July 27, 2012 |access-date=July 27, 2012 |url=http://thecaucus.blogs.nytimes.com/2012/07/27/amazons-founder-pledges-2-5-million-in-support-of-same-sex-marriage/}} Steve Ballmer of Microsoft and co-founder Bill Gates each donated $100,000 to the campaign in support as well. Starbucks, Nike, Inc., REI, Alcoa, Expedia, Inc., T-Mobile, Nordstrom, the Seattle Metropolitan Chamber of Commerce, and dozens of other businesses also supported the bill.{{cite news |agency=AP |newspaper=The Seattle Times |title=APNewsBreak: Ballmer, Gates support gay marriage |author= Rachel La Corte |url=http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/localnews/2018582592_apwagaymarriage1stldwritethru.html |date=July 2, 2012 |access-date=July 3, 2012}}{{cite news |work=The Seattle Times |title=REI endorses same-sex marriage in Washington state |author= Lornet Turnbull |url=http://blogs.seattletimes.com/politicsnorthwest/2012/08/13/rei-endorses-same-sex-marriage-in-washington-state/ |date=August 13, 2012 |access-date=August 14, 2012}}{{cite web|title=Businesses for Washington United for Marriage|url=http://washingtonunitedformarriage.org/category/business/|access-date = August 14, 2012}} United States President Barack Obama encouraged support as well.{{cite web

| last =Brunner

| first =Jim

| title =Obama endorses yes vote on gay marriage in Washington state

| work =Politics Northwest Blog

| publisher =Seattle Times

| date =October 25, 2012

| url =http://blogs.seattletimes.com/politicsnorthwest/2012/10/25/obama-endorses-yes-vote-on-gay-marriage-in-washington-state/

| access-date = October 25, 2012}}

Opposition to the bill was coordinated largely by the National Organization for Marriage (NOM) and the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Seattle, which encouraged support for rejecting the bill among all parishes.{{cite news|author1=Janet I. Tu |author2=Jayme Fraser |name-list-style=amp |title=Low-profile Seattle archbishop not afraid of controversies|newspaper =The Seattle Times|date =August 4, 2012|url =http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/localnews/2018850908_sartain05m.html|access-date = August 22, 2012}} Parishes planned "in-pew donations as part of what it is calling Preserve Marriage month" and NOM was expected to bring in additional money from outside the state.{{cite news|last=Turnbull|first=Lornett|title=Gay-marriage campaigns on verge of unleashing their ads|newspaper =The Seattle Times|date =August 20, 2012|url =http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/localnews/2018958497_ref74money21m.html

|access-date = August 22, 2012}}{{cite news|last=Westneat|first=Danny|title=Out-of-state money chooses what we vote on|newspaper=The Seattle Times|date=August 21, 2012|url=http://seattletimes.com/html/dannywestneat/2018963905_danny22.html|access-date = August 24, 2012}}

Several newspapers in Washington state supported the bill, with the Seattle Times also launching an interactive social media campaign to encourage readers to support the bill publicly.{{cite news |author=Editorial board | title = Ref. 74: Join our 'I do' social media campaign to support same-sex marriage | newspaper =Seattle Times | date =September 14, 2012 | url =http://seattletimes.com/html/edcetera/2019149802_ref-74-i-do-sign.html | access-date = September 16, 2012}} Other endorsements included the Tacoma News-Tribune,{{cite web |author=Editorial Board | title = R-74: Yes vote on marriage equality is right for Washington | work =Editorial | publisher = The News-Tribune | date =September 17, 2012 | url =http://blog.thenewstribune.com/opinion/2012/09/16/r-74-yes-vote-on-marriage-equality-is-right-for-washington | access-date = September 18, 2012}} Spokane's The Spokesman-Review,{{cite web |author=Editorial Board | title = Affirm R-74 because state has no role in personal choice | work =Editorial | publisher =The Spokesman-Review | date =September 16, 2012 | url =http://www.spokesman.com/stories/2012/sep/16/editorial-editorial-affirm-r-74-because-state-has | access-date = September 16, 2012}} Vancouver's The Columbian,{{cite web |author=Editorial Board | title = Referendum 74 Endorsed | work =In Our View | publisher =The Columbian | date =September 16, 2012 | url =http://www.columbian.com/news/2012/sep/16/referendum-74-endorsed | access-date = September 16, 2012}} Yakima Herald-Republic,{{cite web |author=Yakima Herald-Republic Editorial Board

| title =All couples deserve the right to wed, approve R-74

| publisher =Yakima Herald-Republic

| date =October 23, 2012

| url =http://www.yakima-herald.com/stories/2012/10/22/endorsements-all-couples-deserve-the-right-to-wed-approve-r-74

| access-date = October 23, 2012}} Tri-City Herald,{{cite news|author=Editorial Board|title=Same-sex marriage: Yes|newspaper=Tri-City Herald|date=October 14, 2012|url=http://www.tri-cityherald.com/2012/10/14/2133827/same-sex-marriage-yes.html|access-date = October 14, 2012}} Everett's The Herald,{{cite web|author=Editorial Board|title=Vote for marriage equality|work=Herald Endorsement|publisher=The Herald (Everett)|date=October 3, 2012|url=http://www.heraldnet.com/article/20121003/OPINION01/710039972

|access-date = October 3, 2012}} The Olympian,{{cite news |author=Editorial Board | title = A vote for R-74 is a vote for marriage equality and basic rights | newspaper = The Olympian | date =September 21, 2012 | url =http://www.theolympian.com//2012/09/21/2258651/a-vote-for-r-74-is-a-vote-for.html | access-date = September 21, 2012}} The Wenatchee World,{{cite web|author=Wenatchee World Editorial Board|title=R-74 affirms our changing norms|publisher=The Wenatchee World|date=October 6, 2012|url=http://www.wenatcheeworld.com/news/2012/oct/06/r-74-affirms-our-changing-norms/|access-date = October 10, 2012}} and the Walla Walla Union-Bulletin.{{cite web |author = Editorial Board |title = Voters should affirm gay marriage law |work = Editorial |publisher = Walla Walla Union-Bulletin |date = September 13, 2012 |url = http://union-bulletin.com/news/2012/sep/12/voters-should-affirm-gay-marriage-law |access-date = September 18, 2012 |archive-date = November 15, 2012 |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20121115181416/http://union-bulletin.com/news/2012/sep/12/voters-should-affirm-gay-marriage-law/ |url-status = dead }}

Referendum 74 generated a large number of individual donations which may have surpassed the 2008 record of 13,500 for the Washington Death with Dignity Act. As of July 3, 2012, Referendum 74 sponsor Preserve Marriage Washington (seeking "rejection" votes) had reportedly raised $132,000, while Washington United for Marriage (seeking "approval" votes) raised $1.9 million.{{cite news |work=Reuters |title=Washington state anti-gay marriage initiative fails |url=https://www.reuters.com/article/us-usa-gaymarriage-washingtonstate-idUSBRE8621F420120703 |date=July 3, 2012 |access-date=July 6, 2012}} As of August, campaign-financing proponents{{who|date=September 2012}} showed a 13-to-1 fundraising advantage for same-sex marriage, but a National Organization for Marriage campaign director was confident that $4 million would appear as needed.{{cite news

| last =Turnbull

| first =Lornett

| title =Gay-marriage campaigns on verge of unleashing their ads

| newspaper =The Seattle Times

| date =August 20, 2012

| url =http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/localnews/2018958497_ref74money21m.html

| access-date = August 22, 2012}} A Public Disclosure Commission complaint has been filed, accusing both Preserve Marriage Washington and the National Organization for Marriage of having failed to report donations as required by law.{{cite web

| title =PDC complaint filed against R-74 backers

| work =Associated Press report

| publisher =The Seattle Times

| date =August 16, 2012

| url =http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/localnews/2018933254_apwapdccomplaintgaymarriage.html

| access-date = August 22, 2012}} As of October 5, 2012, proponents of Referendum 74 Washington United for Marriage have raised $9.4 million in donations and opponents Preserve Marriage Washington have raised about $1 million.{{cite web

| title =PDC Ballot Measure Map

| date =October 5, 2012

| url =http://www.pdc.wa.gov/public/ballotmap/ballotinitmap.aspx

| access-date =October 5, 2012

| archive-date =September 27, 2012

| archive-url =https://web.archive.org/web/20120927095521/http://www.pdc.wa.gov/public/ballotmap/ballotinitmap.aspx

| url-status =dead

}}

Various public opinion surveys of Washington residents asked questions regarding same-sex marriage. The questions vary, with some surveys referring directly to Referendum 74 and others asking more general questions. A post-election poll indicated much stronger support for such marriage among women than men across several categories.{{cite news

| last =Mapes

| first =Jeff

| title =Women powered gay marriage initiative to victory in Washington, poll shows

| newspaper =The Oregonian

| date =December 13, 2012

| url =http://www.oregonlive.com/politics/index.ssf/2012/12/poll_women_powered_gay_marriag.html

| access-date = December 17, 2012}}

File:Leaving Seattle City Hall on first day of gay marriage in Washington 2.jpg are greeted by well-wishers on the first day of same-sex marriage in Washington state.]]

Upon certification, Secretary of State Sam Reed partially credited the referendum for encouraging voter turnout of 81%, the highest in the nation.{{cite web

| last = Reed

| first = Sam

| title =Gregoire & Reed certify 2012 election, including marriage & marijuana laws

| work =News Release

| publisher =Washington State Secretary of State

| date =December 5, 2012

| url =http://www.sos.wa.gov/office/osos_news.aspx?i=H6P9WeC8mCTWdBX6gjyyMw%3D%3D

| access-date = December 7, 2012}} County offices in King and Thurston counties opened at 12:01 a.m. after the measure was certified, with celebrations in support outside of several government offices,{{cite web

| last =Mapes

| first =Jeff

| title =Same-sex marriages begin in Washington state

| work =The Oregonian, p A1

| publisher =The Oregonian

| date =December 6, 2012

| url =http://www.oregonlive.com/politics/index.ssf/2012/12/same-sex_marriages_begin_in_wa.html

| access-date = December 7, 2012}} with various same-sex weddings scheduled, free of charge, beginning just after midnight on December 9, just after the mandatory three-day waiting period applying to all Washington weddings.{{cite news

| title =Same-sex weddings

| newspaper =The Columbian

| date =December 6, 2012

| url =http://www.columbian.com/news/2012/dec/06/same-sex-couples-claim-their-new-right-marriage/

| access-date = December 7, 2012}}{{cite news |url=http://www.seattlepi.com/local/article/Dec-6-Gay-marriage-s-history-making-day-4017702.php |title=Dec. 6: Gay marriage's history-making day |first=Vanessa|last=Ho|work=Seattlepi.com |date=November 7, 2012}}

"Yes" won 6 of 10 congressional districts.{{cite web |title=2012 General Data |url=https://www.sos.wa.gov/sites/default/files/2022-05/2012-general-data2.zip |website=sos.wa.gov |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240910015641/https://www.sos.wa.gov/sites/default/files/2022-05/2012-general-data2.zip |archive-date=2024-09-10}}

• Andersen v. King County
• Domestic partnership in Washington state
• LGBT rights in Washington (state)
• Minnesota Amendment 1
• Same-sex marriage in Washington state
• Washington Referendum 71 (2009)

• Australian Marriage Law Postal Survey, 2017
• 2016 Bermudian same-sex union and marriage referendum
• 2013 Croatian constitutional referendum
• Irish same-sex marriage referendum, 2015
• 2015 Slovak same-sex marriage referendum
• 2015 Slovenian same-sex marriage referendum
• United States:
• 2008 California Proposition 8
• Maine:
• 2009 Maine same-sex marriage referendum
• 2012 Maine same-sex marriage referendum
• 2012 Maryland same-sex marriage referendum
• 2012 Washington same-sex marriage referendum

{{Reflist}}

• [http://preservemarriagewashington.com Preserve Marriage Washington to reject "redefining marriage"]
• [http://washingtonunitedformarriage.org Washington United for Marriage to approve "marriage equality"]
• [http://vote.wa.gov/results/current/Referendum-Measure-No-74-Concerns-marriage-for-same-sex-couples.html November 06, 2012 General Election Results: Referendum Measure No. 74 Concerns marriage for same-sex couples]

{{LGBT in Washington State}}

{{U.S. same-sex unions ballot measures}}

{{Same-sex marriage in the United States}}

Category:LGBTQ history in Washington (state)

Category:LGBTQ law in the United States

Category:2012 Washington (state) ballot measures

Category:2012 in LGBTQ history

Category:Same-sex marriage ballot measures in the United States