I’ve heard it suggested we not be swayed by either side, but to vote our “gut feeling.” My gut feeling is that “all people are created equal” and perhaps should be treated that way.

Another states he finds gays “distasteful.” I well remember my stepfather, who was from the South, finding mixed race couples distasteful. And being very vocal about it, teaching us those right-wing family values of his. But fortunately, his opinion did not change the law — the Supreme Court did.

Many folks talk about the rights gay people received from the governor that we would like to keep. My question is a different one: Why on Earth are straight people so afraid? My partner and I have been together, in the same home, for 20 years. We help our neighbors, keep up our yard and our home, and have never had any trouble. To my knowledge, no one has been divorced because they live in the same neighborhood as a couple of old lesbians.

The signs calling to reject Referendum 71 refer to marriage. R-71 has nothing to do with marriage. The signs say “protect marriage.” Protect from what? Why don’t these people put some energy into saving their own marriages? The divorce rate among heterosexuals is about 50 percent. Instead of attacking others, why not work within their churches to improve their marriages and bring down their divorce rate? Seems so much more productive to me to make improvements to marriage rather than tearing down those who simply want the same rights.

Catherine North, Federal Way