Voters OK partnership benefits expansion

OLYMPIA, Wash., Nov. 4 (UPI) -- A referendum to expand Washington state's domestic partnership laws appeared to eke out a win but opponents said they weren't conceding anything.

Early returns indicated the benefits-expansion measure was leading 51 percent to 49 percent, the Seattlepi.com reported.

Anne Levinson, chairwoman of Washington Families Standing Together, which campaigned for referendum approval, said early numbers from Tuesday were encouraging , The Seattle Times reported Wednesday.

"For gay and lesbian Washingtonians and their families, this is a major step forward in assuring that we're all treated equally under the law," Levinson said. "Based on what we've seen, if the numbers continue to hold as they are right now, it's a good result."

Passage of the referendum would mean legislation could be enacted once the election is certified. Among other things, the measure would allow domestic partners to take time off to care for a sick partner.

Larry Stickney, campaign manager for Protect Marriage Washington, which sought rejection of the referendum, said it's too early to say what the next steps might be.

"We're still in the hunt," Stickney said.

Last month the U.S. Supreme Court blocked the release of names of those who signed petitions to put the referendum on the ballot, the Seattle Post-Intelligencer said. Justices will consider whether to hear the merits of the case.

The state of Washington supports release of initiative and referendum petitions under the Public Records Act. The Supreme Court action stopped a lower federal court ruling that the names should be made public.