Print 
PDFBoth Referendum 74 and Initiative 1192 are designed to protect marriage in Washington State. Both have a specific way of doing so. Both are vitally important for those who believe in and want to protect and preserve marriage.
Yet there are those in leadership of R-74, while advocating for R-74, are discouraging people and pastors from supporting I-1192---usually saying 2 measures on the ballot will confuse the voters. Or, it is said, there are limited resources, so R-74 should be the only focus.
Last fall I personally told Rep. Matt Shea, Rep. Jim McCune, Rep. Brad Klippert, Sen. Val Stevens, Sen. Dan Swecker and several other legislators, and Larry Stickney and others who have consistently carried the banner to protect and preserve marriage and in whom I personally have a great deal of confidence, that I would not take a formal leadership position in the upcoming battle to protect marriage, but that I would, as they knew, take a 100% role in supporting both a Referendum and/or an Initiative. And would support whoever led in these efforts.
My reason was two-fold. I understood some of the personal dynamics and felt I and Faith and Freedom could contribute more by eliminating some of the issues that were played out publicly against R-71, not by the press, but by an individual, 2 years ago. I knew we would fully support every effort to protect marriage regardless of who led or got the credit. And we are.
Secondly, I foresaw the possibility of 2 measures---referendum and initiative, being in play, which, as it turned out, is the case. I wanted to be fully committed to both because I am fully committed to natural marriage and its protection.
The thousands of people across the state with whom we are involved know full well our deepest commitment to both R-74 and I-1192. There is no question about our full support for both measures.
I am deeply disappointed with some of what I see and hear. Some of the same dynamics of the past seem to have resurfaced, simply pointed in different directions.
I am appealing to each of you who read this daily Blog and believe in protecting and preserving marriage, to work in support of both R-74 and I-1192, including those pastors who read this Blog.
This is the right thing to do. Please put aside egos and other agendas and work together for a cause that is worthy of our very best effort.
If there is confusion, lets be clear, it's not about citizens having the ability to vote for 2 rather than 1 measures.
Steve Pidgeon, a lawyer and sponsor of I-1192, has written an article titled, "What If?"
Please read it below. It should clarify any questions regarding the legitimacy of both R-74 and I-1192.
What if there was no Initiative I-1192?___________________
by Steve Pidgeon
Suppose that the Referendum R-74 fails to make the ballot because the effort cannot obtain the necessary number of signatures:
IF there was no Initiative I-1192, then same-sex marriage would be the law in Washington.
Suppose that Referendum R-74 makes the ballot, but a lawsuit is brought to enjoin the Secretary of State from placing it on the ballot because it is only about depriving same-sex couples from a “civil right” that has already been approved by the legislature:
IF there was no Initiative I-1192, then same-sex marriage would be the law in Washington.
Suppose that Referendum R-74 makes it to the ballot, and makes it to the election, but because voters are confused by a ballot title that requires them to reject same-sex marriage, and to reject domestic partnerships for seniors, and to reject protections for religious liberty, the Referendum fails to obtain a majority of votes sufficient to overturn the same-sex marriage law:
IF there was no Initiative I-1192, then same-sex marriage would be the law in Washington.
Suppose that Referendum R-74 makes it to the ballot, makes it through the election, is passed by the voters, and a suit is brought to overturn in on constitutional grounds, and the Ninth Circuit sustains its unconstitutionality.
IF there was no Initiative I-1192, then same-sex marriage would be the law in Washington.
Confusion?
Initiative I-1192 asks you as a registered voter to support a new law which will declare that marriage is a civil contract between “one man and one woman” and which will prohibit marriage by persons other than “one man and one woman.” MARRIAGE = ONE MAN + ONE WOMAN.
What is confusing about this?
When approved, a two-thirds vote of the legislature will be required to overturn this new law for two years.
Compare the Initiative with the Referendum:
R-74 will ask you to accept or reject SB 6239, which allows same-sex couples to marry, preserves domestic partnerships only for seniors, and preserves the right of clergy or religious organizations to refuse to perform, recognize, or accommodate any marriage ceremony. [Taken from the Ballot Title of R=74]
To vote to reject, you must:
· Reject same-sex marriages;
· Reject the preservation of domestic partnerships for seniors;
· Reject the preservation of the right of clergy or religious organizations to refuse to perform any marriage ceremony;
· Reject the preservation of the right of clergy or religious organizations to refuse to recognize any marriage ceremony;
· Reject the preservation of the right of clergy or religious organizations to refuse to accommodate any marriage ceremony;
We at Protect Marriage Washington are asking you to sign petitions for both the Initiative and the Referendum. Your support now is critical. We need your prayers and your commitment, your signature and your assistance in gathering signatures. Petitions are available on request, and your financial support is crucial. We are a grassroots organization, and we need the support of Washingtonians. Protect Marriage Washington was successful in 70% of Washington’s counties in the R-71 campaign three years ago, although we were outspent 25 to 1. As was the case in our last effort, we have no support from the National Organization for Marriage nor Focus on the Family; we need your support. Please donate today, and protect this effort!
Stephen Pidgeon
You may download a pdf to print I-1192 petitions here and pick up R-74 petitions at any one of these locations or sign up to be contacted by a Faith and Freedom coordinator in your area to assist you by signing up here.
This effort to protect marriage will impact the next generation and future generations. We are deciding now what social and cultural impact our children and grandchildren will experience.
And we are defining our faithfulness to a worthy, biblical cause.
Thanks to all of you who understand our times, and to those who support the ministry of Faith and Freedom.
Be Vigilant. Be Discerning. Be Very Discerning. Be Prayerful. Be Active. Be Blessed.