Oregon Public Broadcasting

If Referendum 71 passes in Washington, it will be because of support west of the Cascades.

The gay rights measure lost in every county east of the mountains sometimes by large margins. Despite that, R-71 supporters in Spokane gathered on Election Night to look ahead.  Doug Nadvornick reports.

At a downtown Spokane lounge, a man who identifies himself only as Joe glances at a TV screen above the bar. He sees that Referendum 71 is winning by a slim margin. He leans over and says two words "about time."

Joe says he and his longtime partner already share health insurance and have legal documents that spell out their wishes.

But R-71 supporter Jet Tilley says, if the referendum is approved, life will change for many others.

Jet Tilley: "When they're, like, filling out their insurance beneficiary form and the insurance person goes, 'and who is this person?', and they say, 'well, it's my partner.' Now it's going to be, 'oh, great, ok.' Which is not the case now."

But Election Night ended with Referendum 71 passing only by a narrow margin. Tilley and other supporters may have to wait a few days to celebrate.