The Battle on Allen Street Bridge

We have heard the thunder for years now. We have heard cracks and pops and watched with distress as hairline fissures split in our direction, forming a veritable spiderweb of fractures. Now the fault line has reached Washington State, and we find ourselves standing stock-still in shock as the very ground beneath us crumbles away. We are the nation's current battlefield for marriage.

With the passing of a discriminatory bill last November (favoring homosexual domestic partners), a core of dedicated Christians sprang into action, refusing to stand and gape at the widening crevices in our state and nation's foundations. Thus Referendum-71 came into being; when enough signatures were gathered and approved by the deadline this summer, Washington's Christians had succeeded in their first objective--to put the bill to the vote again and gain another chance.

Now that we have a second chance, we will do everything in our power to put it to good use. My family and many other conservative Christians gathered last Saturday by the Allen Street Bridge to educate others on SB5688--vote no! (To avoid confusion, please note that we supported putting Referendum-71 on the ballot, but we need to vote to reject SB5688.)

Contrary to what the homosexual agenda would have you believe, homosexual partners already enjoy a great many benefits under Washington State law that are equal to or above those enjoyed by heterosexual domestic partnerships:

• "Such existing powers and rights [already] include health care facility visitation rights, the ability to grant informed consent for health care for a patient who is not competent, title and rights to cemetery plots, and automatic termination of power of attorney upon termination of the state-registered domestic partnerships."
• "Domestic partners of public employees are eligible [already] to participate in Public Employees Benefit Board insurance coverage."
• "Existing law also addresses certain rights and responsibilities of state-registered domestic partners related to community property, estate planning, taxes, court process, service to indigent veterans and other public assistance, conflicts of interest for public officials, and guardianships."

Additionally, if this law passes, marriage will become a detour for romantics and an inconvenience for most because, as the Pamphlet states, "Gender specific terms such as husband and wife used in any statute, rule, or other law would be construed to be gender neutral, and applicable to individuals in state-registered domestic partnerships."
Thus, we were compelled to go on Saturday, standing for three hours to spread information about this unfair, ungodly, and very dangerous bill. However, as we gathered for a final prayer and picture before dispersing, we were suddenly confronted with the reality of our situation across the state: two men, who had previously driven by with some not-so-nice words and finger gestures for us, now claimed our corner with rainbow-colored signs that read "WWJD?" and "Reject Intolerance: Approve SB5688." We immediately took to heart their poignant reminder to consider, "What would Jesus do?" and headed back to the bridge for another hour to do battle against humanistic worldviews and the Prince of Darkness.

We spent four hours out there on Saturday, but that is hardly enough. We need your help! If you are a Washingtonian, vote! Vote for family, Biblical marriage between one man and one woman, and the future of our nation. Additionally, whether or not you live in Washington, please help us in this battle! There will be another gathering like this one on Saturday, October 31st at 11:00 by the Allen Street Bridge, and the media promises to be there--liberal as they are, any attention they give us will help to spread the word (contact me for more information). All throughout the state, you will find rallies such as this--join them, if possible! Put up signs, engage citizens in discussion, and hand out educational material. These may be butterfly bandages on increasingly widening faults and fissures, but they can get us through November. Then it will be time to get down to serious business--shoring up the crumbling foundations of our nation, which is only possible through the sovereign pleasure of God and the saving grace of Jesus Christ. With that in mind, please pray for the rally on Saturday, for the group that opposed us, for the biased media which refused to cover us, and for the election. Because if Washington falls into the ocean, you are certainly not far behind.
This is just the beginning: Senator Ed Murray told the Seattle Times (1/10/2007) when announcing the Domestic Partnership Bill, "The goal is marriage equality. It's an important statement that our eyes are on the prize, and the prize is marriage." Please visit Protect Marriage Washington for detailed documentation on this bill, the consequences facing Washington if this bill passes, information on rallies around the state, and other ways to get involved.

All images courtesy of Elena Photographers