SEQUIM — A marriage-equality protest will be staged in front of Sequim Bible Church on Saturday to oppose the church’s support of Referendum 74, which would have voters block legalizing same-sex marriage in the state and overturn a new law.
The protest is scheduled from 10 a.m. to noon Saturday at the church, 847 N Sequim Ave.
The church’s pastor said no counterprotest in support of Referendum 74 would take place.
Saying she and her partner felt “outrage” after reading the church’s full-page advertisement in the Wednesday, May 9, Peninsula Daily News, Eleanor “Elly” Nauman said she and Nancy Avery, both of Sequim, are organizing the protest “because they’re trying to deny our civil rights.”
Marriage was an institution devised by men mainly for the transfer of property from parents to children in a male-dominated society, said Nauman, who was married to Avery at Universalist Unitarian Church in Victoria in 2004.
Nauman and Avery said signs will be available but those who wish to join in the demonstration can bring their your own messages and rainbow flags to display.
Nauman, who along with Avery are members Olympic Unitarian Universalist Fellowship in Agnew, said they sent out email invitations to the protest to such religious organizations including their fellowship, Gudlife Port Townsend, the gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender community organization for the Eastern Olympic Peninsula, and the MoveOn.org progressive movement in Clallam County.
“Please try to attend and show these bigots that we will fight for our civil rights,” the invitation states.
Avery said the issue boils down to “equal protection under the law.”
“There was a time in our past when slaves and people of different races we’re not allowed to marry,” Avery said.
“Now it’s an issue with gays to marry.”
She said that without legal marriage, same-sex couples are denied health, pension and tax code benefits, under the law.
Signatures are now being collected at the church in support of Referendum 74, which would put on the November ballot a a public vote on Senate Bill 6239. The Legislature passed the bill in February and Gov. Chris Gregoire later signed it into law .
The law takes effect June 7 unless R-74 supporters gather the more than 120,577 valid voter signatures needed statewide by June 6.
If they gather enough signatures, the law will be delayed pending the November election outcome.
The Rev. Dave Wiitala, pastor of Sequim Bible Church who helped write with church leaders and purchased the PDN ad, said the church received notice from the protest group but plans no counterprotest.
“We see this as a moral issue, not a political issue,” Wiitala said today. “And we believe the people of Washington should have the right to vote on this change of the marriage law.”
The text of the ad states: “Marriage between a man and a woman has been the principle for societies since history began and for our country since it was founded.”
The ad cites the federal Defense of Marriage Act passed by Congress and signed by President Clinton in 1996.
“Marriage is a special relationship reserved exclusively for heterosexual unions because only the intimate relationship between man and woman has the ability to product children,” the church states in the ad. “ . . . God calls active participation in homosexuality sinful and wrong.”
Asked how the church’s members would respond to the protest, Wiitala said, “What we’re going to do is buy bottles of water and put them on ice to they can have something to drink and not get dehydrated. We will ask them not to step on our property. It’s private property.
“We will be loving and gracious, as Jesus would be.”
The church’s canopy and table set up to sign the R-74 petition would remain in front of the church, Wiitala said.
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Sequim-Dungeness Valley Editor Jeff Chew can be reached at 360-681-2390, ext. 5052, or at jeff.chew@peninsuladailynews.com.