My partner and I have been together for almost 20 years. As far as I know, no heterosexual couple has divorced or separated as a result. We pay our taxes, keep up our yard, help our elderly neighbor and participate in various non-profits that benefit the community.

Yet, many Washingtonians would deny us some very basic rights.

Gay and lesbian people pay the same taxes; their families should be entitled to the same legal protections, rights and responsibilities as any other taxpayer.

Religious liberty is one of the most important protections all Americans enjoy. Neither domestic partnerships nor marriage equality infringe on religious liberty. Just as they can today, faith traditions will always be able to decide for themselves what families they religiously recognize.

Every faith tradition has the right to decide for itself who it will marry and who it will not. But let’s not forget to keep church and state separate. Letting people that are registered domestic partners — gay or straight — keep the rights we’ve been given, has nothing whatsoever to do with anyone’s church or religion.

What are you afraid of — gay people having a few rights? And how does that hurt you? Or the “institution of marriage?” It doesn’t.

If you are considering signing Referendum 71, please take a long, hard look at who it’s going to hurt — and why you want to hurt them.

Catherine North, Federal Way