Dear Editor,

I am writing to urge you to vote yes on Ref. 71. This is not a vote of whether to give gays and senior citizens "special" rights; this is about preserving EQUAL rights that have already been granted.

We all want to take care of our family and have the option for unpaid leave to take care of a critically ill partner. It is really important that we approve Ref. 71, so that senior citizen couples and gay couples can have this security to take their partner just like other Washington couples can.

All Washington families should be treated equally under the law and we shouldn't take away protections for a committed couple who want to take care of each other.

John Megowan
White Center