When it comes to engaging in the coming referendum battle in Washington State, I don't think I need to prepare to meet my maker just yet.

The legalization of same-sex marriage is just a matter of time, and a brief time at that:    CLICKY.   Not just in Washington State, but all over the country. And, it would appear, the world.

One Larry Stickney, self-styled head of the "Washington Values Allliance" is pushing Referendum 71, which would repeal Washington State's recently passed domestic partnership law. So far, it's not going too well for him. The referendum has been out there for awhile, and it has until July 25 (one week from today) to gather a total of 120,577 valid voter signatures to secure a place on the November 3 ballot. So far, there is another petition being circulated, gathering the signatures of registered voters who pledge not to sign the Referendum 71 petition, and I understand that's doing quite well!

The arguments that Stickney is putting forward are from a fundamentalist Christian perspective, which tends not to go over very well in this area, especially with members of more liberal Christian churches, of which there are many here—some of which perform religious marriage ceremonies for same-sex couples, whether the law recognizes them or not.

This is not going to be any kind of duel at all. I was expecting more sophisticated arguments than this!

Don Firth