In 2012, The Times editorial board asked readers to take a picture of themselves with a partner, spouse or family holding a sign reading “I Do” in support of Ref. 74.
In addressing the nation Friday, President Obama spoke of the long struggle leading up the U.S. Supreme Court ruling in favor of legalizing same-sex marriage. The 5-4 decision is “a victory for gay and lesbian couples,” the president said. He added, “It’s a victory for their children, whose families will now be recognized as equal to any other. It’s a victory for the allies and friends and supporters who spent years, even decades working and praying for change to come.”
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Nowhere was this struggle more evident than here in Washington state, which was one of three states in November 2012 that voted to allow same-sex couples to marry. Leading up to that historic vote, The Seattle Times launched its “I Do” campaign in support of Referendum 74, which affirmed the law allowing gay marriage. The newspaper’s strong support of gay marriage can be traced back to a decision in 2000 by Publisher Frank Blethen, and the fifth generation of the Blethen family, who had pushed to support civil unions granting same-sex couples full state benefits — and responsibilities — of marriage.
During the 2012 campaign, The Times editorial board asked readers to take a picture of themselves with a partner, spouse or family holding a sign reading “I Do” in support of Ref. 74. These photos of individuals, families, church groups together supporting same-sex marriage were a powerful testament in favor of Referendum 74. Enjoy this moving slideshow from that campaign: