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http://www.tri-cityherald.com/964/story/760343.html#none

As a gay citizen of the Tri-Cities who is passionate about our community, I believe we have an enormous opportunity in this upcoming election to show all of Washington that we care about safeguarding the rights of our families.

Imagine you get a call at work and you learn that a member of your family has been in a severe car accident or diagnosed with a terrible disease. It may take months for this family member to recover. Or perhaps, they have only been given a few weeks to live. And you have no family medical leave you can take without the risk of losing your job. Caring for a loved one in a time of need is a right everyone should have, yet this is a scenario that haunts thousands of families in domestic partnerships across the state of Washington.

It is important that our community separate the political rhetoric from the facts on this law. The consequences of rejecting R-71 on Election Day are severe and will hurt thousands of gay and lesbian families and seniors across Washington.

On Election Day, by voting to approve Referendum 71 we retain our state's domestic partnership law passed by the Legislature in 2009.

Consider these fundamental protections coveredunder the law:

w The ability to take 12 weeks of unpaid family leave to care for a critically ill family member.

w Death benefits for families and children in case one parent dies. For example, firefighters in domestic partnerships who risk their lives to protect our families would lose their death benefits to protect their families if killed in the line of duty.

w Seniors who are in domestic partnerships would lose protections to safeguard their hard-earned Social Security and pension benefits.

There are more than 12,000 people registered in domestic partnerships across Washington. They include gay and lesbian families and their children and seniors in committed relationships. That's why Republicans like Rep. Norm Johnson, R-Yakima, and Rep. Maureen Walsh, R-Walla Walla, joined the majority of lawmakers to pass our domestic partnership law. This law provides equal protections under the law for all families, especially in times of crisis.

There has been a lot of confusion about Referendum 71. That confusion is exactly what opponents are counting on in an effort to derail its approval. They are hoping that a costly campaign, confusion and low voter turnout in an off-year election will be enough to stop these essential protections for Washington families.

As a founder of Vista Youth Center, a youth service provider for gay and lesbians teens, I am dedicated to helping kids and their families, often through difficult times. I am proud to support a campaign that has the support of more than 220 organizations, 100 clergy and Washington's biggest employers like Boeing and Microsoft. The Approve 71 campaign also has the support of numerous newspapers such as the Spokesman Review, Walla Walla Union Bulletin, Columbian, News Tribune, Seattle Times and others.

It was disappointing to see that our own hometown paper could not agree on supporting to protect all families equally under the law. But the stalemate reflects the battle at the ballot box.

The outcome of this election will ultimately hinge on whether voters educate themselves on the true merits of this law and take action by voting. I encourage you to learn more about the Approve 71 campaign and how the domestic partnership law protects families. Learn more about thecampaign at www.approve71.org.