Get to Know Your Elected Officials
PFLAG Skagit does not endorse or support any particular elected official or political candidate, or contribute funds to their campaigns or programs. This resource guide is meant to be used as a way to assist you with familiarizing yourself with our elected WA State officials.
We have noted, however, whether or not these individuals have supported legislation that aligns with PFLAG’s mission and goals of creating and sustaining a just and equal society in which gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender persons (GLBT) have the same rights as all other members of society.
We encourage you to keep informed about how your elected officials vote on LGBT issues and contact them to voice your approval or disappointment with their actions or omissions. PFLAG Skagit seeks to Support, Educate and Advocate on behalf of our family members and friends who identify as LGBT. One very powerful way of creating change is to participate in government in any way you can, especially when an elected official’s actions might directly contribute to a divisive and discriminatory environment for LGBT persons and their allies.
You can find out more information about Washington State Government and your legislative district at: http://apps.leg.wa.gov/DistrictFinder/Default.aspx
And here’s a link to find out how your elected officials voted:
Washington Votes: http://washingtonvotes.org/
United States Congress (history of supporting LGBT rights)
U.S. Senator Maria Cantwell: http://cantwell.senate.gov/
U.S. Senator Patty Murray: http://murray.senate.gov/public/
U.S. Representative Rick Larson: http://larsen.house.gov/
40th District (history of supporting LGBT rights)
Senator Kevin Ranker: http://www.leg.wa.gov/senate/senators/pages/ranker.aspx
Representative Kristine Lytton: http://www.leg.wa.gov/house/representatives/pages/lytton.aspx
Member of PFLAG since 2010!
Representative Jeff Morris: http://www.leg.wa.gov/house/representatives/pages/morris.aspx
39th District (unsupportive of LGBT rights)
Senator Val Stevens: http://www.leg.wa.gov/senate/senators/pages/stevens.aspx
Representative Dan Kristiansen: http://www.leg.wa.gov/house/representatives/pages/kristiansen.aspx
Representative Kirk Pearson: http://www.leg.wa.gov/house/representatives/pages/pearson.aspx
THE ISSUES
Click on this link to read SB 6239 and HB 2516 concerning civil marriage and domestic partnerships.
2011 House Bill 1267: Clarifying and expanding the rights and obligations of state registered domestic partners and other couples related to parentage (House Roll Call)
Passed 57 to 41 in the House on February 28, 2011, to amend the Uniform Parentage Act to: (1) reference state-registered domestic partnerships in specific provisions; (2) adopt some of the changes made by the National Conference of Commissioners on Uniform State Laws; (3) extend the time under which a person can challenge parentage or rescind an acknowledgment under certain circumstances; and (4) use gender-neutral terms. Establishes standards for surrogacy contracts, including requirements that must be met by the intended parents and the woman acting as a surrogate. [History, Amendments & Comments]
The vote was 57 in favor, 41 against, and 0 not voting.
Representatives Dan Kristiansen and Kirk Pearson, Republicans, voted against the bill; Senator Val Stevens, Republican, also voted against the bill. Democratic Representatives Kristine Lytton and Jeff Morris voted in favor as did Democratic Senator Kevin Ranker.
http://washingtonvotes.org/RollCall.aspx?ID=547454
2011 House Bill 1649: Concerning reciprocity and statutory construction with regard to domestic partnerships (House Roll Call)
Passed 58 to 39 in the House on March 4, 2011, to provide that validly formed same-sex marriages from other jurisdictions will be recognized as state-registered domestic partnerships. Amends the statutory interpretation provision to explicitly state that it applies to any future legislation, unless the legislation expressly states otherwise. [History, Amendments & Comments]
The vote was 58 in favor, 39 against, and 1 not voting.
Representatives Dan Kristiansen and Kirk Pearson, Republicans, voted against the bill; Senator Val Stevens, Republican, also voted against the bill. Democratic Representatives Kristine Lytton and Jeff Morris voted in favor as did Democratic Senator Kevin Ranker.
http://washingtonvotes.org/RollCall.aspx?ID=549828
2011 House Bill 1163: Concerning harassment, intimidation, and bullying prevention (House Roll Call)
Passed 76 to 21 in the House on March 2, 2011, to require the Office of the Superintendent of the Public Instruction and the Office of the Education Ombudsman to establish an ongoing workgroup regarding prevention of bullying, intimidation, and harassment in public schools. [History, Amendments & Comments]
The vote was 76 in favor, 21 against, and 1 not voting.
Representatives Dan Kristiansen and Kirk Pearson, Republicans, voted against the bill; Senator Val Stevens, Republican, also voted against the bill. Democratic Representatives Kristine Lytton and Jeff Morris voted in favor as did Democratic Senator Kevin Ranker.
http://washingtonvotes.org/RollCall.aspx?ID=548222