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Referendum 71 APPROVED

The battle to preserve the new "everything but marriage" domestic partnerships in Washington has been won. Washington voters have made history by approving Referendum 71, reports the Seattle Times.

The tally Thursday afternoon saw the vote to approve R-71 widening its lead 52.5 percent to 47.5 percent. That lead now appears insurmountable. The Secretary of State's Office estimates another 500,000 to 600,000 ballots statewide are still outstanding, with about half expected from King County, where the measure is being approved by slightly more than 2 to 1. "Voters across the state listened to the personal stories of lesbian and gay families and the challenges they faced and sent a strong message that we want to see all families treated equally under the law in our state," said Anne Levinson, chairwoman of Washington Families Standing Together, which worked for the measure's approval.

Lurleen at Pam's House Blend offers some historical context: "Almost every Washington county shows an increase in pro-equality voting. The last time Washington voters had the opportunity to ratify a pro-equality law at the polls was in 1997. Initiative 677 proposed an employment non-discrimination law. The measure was rejected 59.7% to 40.3%. Contrary to the current image of the Puget Sound area of Washington as progressive, not one single county - not even Seattle's home of King County - voted to approve I-677. Contrast that with the current election where the electorate as a whole approved R-71 and majorities in 10 of Washington's 39 counties have approved R-71."

Gay activists are rightly disappointed by the loss in Maine but let's not dismiss the important victory in Washington. Congratulations to the people of Washington and Washington Families Standing Together for an excellent campaign.

Supreme Court Blocks Names in Washington's Referendum 71

The Supreme Court temporarily blocks the release of the names of the persons who signed petitions seeking a referendum on Washington's new domestic partnership, Referendum 71.

The court's Tuesday action maintains the Monday hold placed by Justice Anthony Kennedy, who temporarily blocked a federal appeals court ruling that had ordered the release of the names. SCOTUSblog reports: "The disclosure will remain blocked until the Supreme Court can act on a coming appeal by sponsors of the referendum. The practical effect is that the ballot measure will go before the state’s voters on Nov. 3 without revelations of who signed the petitions to put it on the ballot."

WATCH: Obama's Keynote Address to the Human Rights Campaign

Appearing before a very welcoming crowd at the Human Rights Campaign's annual dinner in Washington DC, President Barack Obama delivered an emotional speech and reiterated his commitment to LGBT rights. No specifics to enact his campaign promises, though, but the President did use his strongest language yet on the military's failed "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" policy and the Employment Non-Discrimination Act (ENDA).

JUMP and watch the speech.

"I will end 'Dont Ask, Don't Tell,''' Obama said to thunderous applause and a standing ovation from the crowd of about 3,000. "We should not be punishing patriotic Americans who have stepped forward to serve the country. We should be celebrating their willingness to step forward and show such courage especially when we are fighting two wars."

On ENDA, the President said "Nobody in America should be fired because they are gay" and committed the Administration to passing a "fully inclusive" version.

The most thunderous applause was for his mention of the Matthew Shepard Act. "I promised Judy Shepard we would pass an inclusive hate crimes bill. And we're going to do it!" he said admitting it's taken "too long." The measure passed the House on Thursday and is expected to pass the Senate next week.

As anticipated, the President did not mention the two ballot measures that would rollback rights granted to LGBTs on either coast: Question 1 in Maine and Referendum 71 in Washington. Obama offered broader promises to oppose the "divisiveness" of opponents of equality.

Obama also acknowledged that many LGBTs "don't believe progress has come fast enough" and added, "Friends should be able to be honest with one another", reminding supporters to keep him and the Congress accountable. Oh and then there was that fabulous opening bouquet to the gays: "It is a privilege to be here tonight to open for Lady Gaga."

No specifics, no call for legislation, and no mention of the major LGBT issues on the November ballot. Bur for the President and Nobel Peace Prize winner to keynote HRC in his first year of office .... that's progress. Best moment? Obama received a massive ovation for saying, "You will see a time when our country sees relationship between two men or two women as just as admirable as relationships between a man and woman."

Curious to hear you thoughts ...

JUMP and via C-SPAN watch the speech.

News: Schwarzenegger, Anthony Woods, Queen Latifah, Ref 71

· Federal court orders California to reduce its prison population by 43,000 inmates within two years.

· California Senate President Pro Tem Darrell Steinberg announces he will file a lawsuit against Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger. The suit contends the governor "violated his constitutional authority" in making line item vetoes when he ordered "huge and potentially disastrous cuts in vital California health and welfare programs, including those that affect people living with HIV/AIDS, seniors, the disabled, and the very young."

· Washington: Rejection rate rising signatures for Referendum 71, which would rescind the state's recently passed "everything but marriage" domestic-partnership law.

· For the seventh year in a row, the City of Chicago issues a mayoral proclamation and holds a ceremony "recognizing the service of GLBT veterans. It is the only such municipal recognition ceremony in the country."

· Queen Latifah now a regular at New York City lesbian party "Eden."

· Congressional candidate Anthony Woods as a positive role for black gay youth: "Woods' ability to connect with a youth culture increasingly accepting of gays suggests a number of possibilities for black gay community. Should Woods win the seat and go on to enjoy a lengthy and successful career in politics, it will be very hard for history to downplay his contributions to the political world the way it was done with civil rights activist Bayard Rustin. Many—including a number of black gays—know little about Rustin's work to combat segregation, apartheid, and homophobia. In the digital age where everything is photographed, taped, and blogged, Woods' potential ascension from fallen victim of 'Don't Ask Don't Tell' to the first black openly gay person elected to Congress will be a story told repeatedly to young gays of color."

Racism and Homophobia Cloud Story of 7 Year Old Boy with Sickle Cell Raised by Two Gay Men

This morning's post on the adoption initiative for black and black gay parents leads to another story that is somewhat bittersweet: A 7-year-old black boy in rural Washington has sickle cell anemia and is badly in need of a bone-marrow transplant, the Seattle Times reports. Zyreal Oliver-Chandler is being raised by two gay men and the reception to the story has been marred by racism and homophobia.

Thomas Oliver and his partner, Jeffrey Chandler adopted Zyreal when he was only 7 months old, knowing the infant had sickle-cell anemia. Oliver and Chandler say they fell in love with Zyreal when they first saw him— a wide-eyed baby who easily fell asleep in their arms. "He had a round head just like Charlie Brown," Oliver says.

In Zyreal's room near Seabeck, he chatters happily about all the books he's read and Blueie, a stuffed elephant. "I found Blueie walking down the hall at Mary Bridge (Children's Hospital in Tacoma) looking for somebody to love him," Oliver says as Zyreal tosses Blueie into the air. Zyreal says little when asked about his many hospital stays. And his two fathers hope he'll someday be free from pain and medical procedures.

Thomas Oliver and partner Jeffrey Chandler —who are not black—have another adopted black son with special needs who is a Western Washington University student.

The comment stream at the Seattle Times is noteworthy: Several of the comments are downright homophobic (some have been removed), while many others spout proto-racist, faux scientific gene theories or just plain ole racism such as the succinct "Does the Seattle Times put black people on the cover of their paper so often because of white guilt?"  One commenter asks: "You guys need to look in the mirror and figure out how you can take this where you took this. It's just a story about a child whose parents are trying to save his life and you find fault in that?"

It's also worth noting that supporters of Washington's Referendum 71, which would rescind the state's recently passed "everything but marriage" domestic-partnership law, would intentionally harm families like the Oliver-Chandlers'. A letter to the editor at the Times asks: "What would the Rev. Ken Hutcherson, the anti-gay, black preacher, say to Zyreal about the only two parents he has known?"