Constantine, Hutchison both back state gay-rights law

In the race for King County executive, Dow Constantine has tried to paint Susan Hutchison as a conservative whose values are out of sync with local voters.

But when it comes to Referendum 71, the likely November referendum on the state's "everything but marriage" law, Constantine and Hutchison agree.

They both want to keep the domestic partnership law, which grants same-sex couples the same state-provided benefits as married couples.

Constantine sent out a statement Monday evening after the Secretary of State's Office announced that backers of R-71, who want to overturn the recent expansion of the law, appeared to have collected enough signatures to put the referendum on the ballot.

"While this is disappointing news, we must come together as a community and affirm an important law that speaks to our core values and is a long-overdue step for equality," Constantine said in his statement.

An "approve" vote would retain the law.

Hutchison did not issue a similar public statement. But Jordan McCarren, her campaign manager, said "she does not wish to overturn the law" and that Hutchison would vote in November to keep it in place.

Bill Dubay, a longtime gay activist and county employee, said he was pleased to hear about Hutchison's stance.

"Good for her. We need all the candidates running anyplace in this state to clearly state the outcome they desire," Dubay said.

Clearly stating that desired outcome can be tricky for candidates because of how a referendum works.

Backers of R-71, meaning those who have worked to put it on the ballot in an attempt to repeal parts of the law, want voters to mark "reject" on their ballots. Those who want to keep the law would vote "approve."

The secretary of state is expected this morning to officially certify the referendum for the Nov. 3 ballot.

A King County Superior Court judge is also expected to decide today whether to issue a temporary restraining order blocking Secretary of State Sam Reed from certifying R-71 for the ballot.

Supporters of the domestic-partnership law had sued Reed, saying his office had accepted signatures that should have been rejected under state law.

Staff reporter Janet I. Tu contributed to this story.

Bob Young: 206-464-2174 or byoung@seattletimes.com.