Media outlets are calling Referendum 71 Approved this evening. There is currently a 55,000 vote and four percentage point lead which the Seattle Times says is insurmountable. Gays and lesbians (and people over 62) will retain “everything but marriage” and the state makes history with the first voter approved initiative of its kind.
But votes still remain to be counted and opponents are not conceding yet.
Larry Stickney, head of Protect Marriage Washington, which worked for rejection of R-71, said: “There are a lot of votes out there still. We continue to have some hope that the votes cast later will move in our direction.”
More details are here.
