Gay-rights group ends effort to block public vote in Washington on expanded gay benefits

Backers won’t appeal public vote on gay benefits

OLYMPIA, Wash. — Supporters of Washington state’s most recent expansion of domestic partnership rights say they’re dropping efforts to block a public vote on the new law.

Washington Families Standing Together chairwoman Anne Levinson says the group is now going to focus on a campaign to ensure that the law is retained.

On Tuesday, a Thurston County judge rejected the group’s argument that state officials improperly accepted thousands of petition signatures in support of putting Referendum 71 on the ballot.

The referendum puts the Legislature’s latest expansion of domestic partnership rights for gay couples on the November ballot. A “yes” vote would approve the new law, and a “no” vote would reject it.