FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: March 14, 2012
Contact: Anath Hartmann or Elizabeth Ray (703-683-5004)

"We are confident that voters will have a chance to vote on redefining marriage, and they will reject it." —Brian Brown, NOM President—

Washington, DC — The National Organization for Marriage (NOM), the nation's leading pro-marriage group, said today that it will actively join with Preserve Marriage Washington to circulate petitions on R-74 that will give voters the right to decide if the definition of marriage should be changed in Washington. Yesterday a judge cleared the petition for circulation.

"We are excited to finally begin this referendum petition drive and look forward to working alongside Preserve Marriage Washington to collect the required signatures to put marriage on the ballot," said Brian Brown, NOM's president. "We are confident that voters will have a chance to vote on redefining marriage, and they will reject it, just as voters in 31 other states have done."

Thirty one states, including the "deep blue" states of California, Wisconsin and Maine, have voted to define marriage as the union of one man and one woman. Earlier this year the Washington legislature narrowly passed ESSB 6239, which made marriage genderless for all couples, same-sex and otherwise, and redefined common terms like "husband" and "wife" to make them interchangeable. Preserve Marriage Washington, the coalition backing Referendum 74 to overturn the law, must collect approximately 120,500 voter signatures by June 6th to put the issue on the ballot. Once that occurs, the legislation does not go into effect and voters will decide whether to approve or reject the legislation in November.

"We call on all supporters of traditional marriage to sign the R-74 petitions," Brown said. "Voters can go to www.PreserveMarriageWashington.com to request petitions, volunteer or contribute much needed funds."

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To schedule an interview with Brian Brown, President of the National Organization for Marriage, please contact Elizabeth Ray (x130), [email protected], or Anath Hartmann, [email protected], at 703-683-5004.

Paid for by The National Organization for Marriage, Brian Brown, president. 2029 K Street NW, Suite 300 Washington, DC 20006, not authorized by any candidate or candidate's committee. New § 68A.405(1)(f) & (h).