To the editor:

In my recent letter regarding Proposition 71 (actually “Referendum 71”) I correctly urged readers to support Washington state’s expanded domestic partnership laws.

Seeing R-71 as resulting from efforts by people seeking to reverse the law, I misconstrued the form in which the issue will be put before the voters. The precise wording of Referendum 71 is as follows:

“The Legislature passed Engrossed Second Substitute Senate Bill 5688 concerning rights and responsibilities of state-registered domestic partners and voters have filed a sufficient referendum petition on this bill. This bill would expand the rights, responsibilities and obligations accorded state-registered same-sex and senior domestic partners to be equivalent to those of married spouses, except that a domestic partnership is not a marriage. Should this bill be: Approved, Rejected.”

See it for yourself at http://www.secstate.wa.gov/elections/initiatives/referendum.aspx.

I again urge everyone to support the rights of our neighbors, friends and families. Support the law and vote “Approved.” Thank you.

Hal Seligson

Langley