Dear Editor,

In addition to protecting gay families who are denied the right to marry, the domestic partnership law provides protection to older hetrosexual couples where one partner is at least 62 years of age.

It is really important that we approve Ref. 71, so that senior citizen couples and gay couples can have the security just like other Washington married couples have to take care of their families.

Religious liberty is one of the most important protections all Americans and Washingtonians enjoy. Neither domestic partnerships nor marriage equality infringe on religious liberty. Just as they can today, faith traditions will always be able to decide for themselves what families they religiously recognize.

Marriage is Marriage. It is a unique institution that is understood around the world and operates at both the legal and social level. Domestic partnerships neither provide legal equality nor the dignity gay and lesbian couples deserve.

Please join me in approving Ref. 71. It is fair and correct to affirm the rights of Washington's gay and lesbian families and couples who are partnered but not married for financial reasons.

In my 40 years of nursing, I have seen far too often legal equality rights denied to those who are not married, but have been in a long term loving relationship.

Ian Anderson, RN
Greenwood