Venerable civil rights group urges voters to Approve R-74

The Area Conference of the NAACP, which includes Washington state, has endorsed a vote of Approve on Referendum 74, which affirms the state's bipartisan law allowing same-sex couples to marry.

'We are honored to have the endorsement of the NAACP, which has always championed justice, fairness, and equality for everyone,' said Washington United for Marriage campaign manager Zach Silk. 'The national and regional NAACP join over 30 community of color organizations which have endorsed [Approve] Referendum 74.'

NAACP PRESS RELEASE
Following is the full text of the press release announcing the endorsement:

The Alaska-Oregon-Washington State Area Conference of the NAACP has officially endorsed Referendum 74, which would legalize same-sex marriage in the state of Washington. The announcement comes just days after the area conference held its annual convention in Vancouver, WA.

'The Alaska-Oregon-Washington State Area Conference of the NAACP officially endorsed Referendum 74,' stated Area Conference President Oscar Eason, Jr. 'The NAACP has always been at the forefront of the battle for marriage equality. We fought for marriage equality in the 1960s when miscegenation laws blocked marriages between races, and we continue to stand up for marriage equality today.'

In May, the NAACP National Board of Directors passed a resolution endorsing marriage equality.

'Civil marriage is a civil right and a matter of civil law,' said Benjamin Todd Jealous, President and CEO of the NAACP. 'The NAACP's support for marriage equality is deeply rooted in the 14th Amendment of the U.S. Constitution and equal protection of all people. The National NAACP commends the efforts of the Alaska-Oregon-Washington State Area Conference to break down the barriers to marriage equality.'

The Alaska-Oregon-Washington State Area Conference will actively engage in voter education efforts on marriage equality ahead of the November 6th elections.

ABOUT THE NAACP
Founded in 1909, the NAACP is the nation's oldest and largest civil rights organization. Its members throughout the United States and the world are the premier advocates for civil rights in their communities, conducting voter mobilization and monitoring equal opportunity in the public and private sectors.

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