Referendum 71 (expanded gay rights) passes in WA State, but not by much:

[Mrs. Overall]

Referendum 71 passes by 51% to 49%!

I'm so glad it passed and I'm happy to live in one of the 8 counties that voted for it. But, I'm saddened that 28 counties rejected it. WTF is wrong with people?? It's not a surprise that the Eastern and Southern part of the state, which is more conservative rejected it, but it's always surprising to me to see the geographical results.


Here's a map of the results:

http://vote.wa.gov/Elections/WEI/ResultsByCounty.aspx?ElectionID=32&RaceID=102369&CountyCode=%20&JurisdictionTypeID=-2&RaceTypeCode=M&ViewMode=Results

[lumberjack_jeff]

1. A win is a win.

It shouldn't be subject to a vote, but I'm very glad it passed.

[Sebastian Doyle]

2. I'm actually surprised by some of those counties

Whatcom county passed based on Bellingham itself. The rest of that county is pretty much fundagelical central. Good to see Clallam & Jefferson on the right side of this. Very disappointed about Pierce County (Tacoma? What the fuck?), and I would have thought there were enough sane people in Vancouver to override the nutjobs from the rest of Clark County.

Being in Thurston county myself, I'm feeling like I'm in an oasis surrounded by a desert of hate and stupidity.

[SoCalNative]

3. We need to start doing to the fundie freaks what England did

to the Puritans. Make it SO uncomfortable for them to remain in this country they will look for a new homeland.

And that goes for the Mormons and the Catholics too.

[Liberal Gramma]

5. Good idea, but how do you implement it?

We can't throw them in jail, like England did. Religion is one of the protected classes under the discrimination laws, so we can't refuse to hire or promote them. Maybe we could shun them: refuse to speak to or acknowledge a fundie.

[SoCalNative]

7. For starters, tax their churches to the hilt

and be relentless until every last available dine is wrested from them. THen foreclose on their properties and levy all other property when they cannot pay their taxes.

And the shunning thing is good too...

[juno jones]

9. Yes!

Tax 'em all, let the IRS sort 'em out! You do charity worK? FINE! Let's see the reciepts, numbers, records, etc.

[Mrs. Overall]

4. Yes, I am confused by the Tacoma results--isn't part of Tacoma in Thurston county?

[Liberal Gramma]

6. Mostly in Pierce county.

[Sebastian Doyle]

8. Tacoma is Pierce County

There's a lot of rural rednecks in the rest of that county too though.

[juno jones]

10. In addition:

I wonder how much vote-by-mail helped. Where applicable, of course.

[NMMNG]

11. Oh but....

We're constantly told "just get rid of the term Marriage" and you'll get an overwhelming majority of the population to vote in your favor. Are you saying people are just largely anti-gay bigots and it doesn't actually have anything to do with the word "Marriage"? (Rhetorical question, of course.)