2012 is shaping up to be a historic year for marriage equality. Indicators are that it could be the first years voters finally affirmatively vote in support of same-sex marriage. In Maryland, a marriage equality law was approved by the legislature but a referendum put the issue on the November ballot. The latest Washington Post poll shows marriage equality narrowly winning.

“Protect the children,” the opponents of civil marriage for same-sex couples plead. The implication is that gay and lesbian parents will somehow harm or disadvantage their own children if allowed to marry.

In contrast, over 30 child and family advocacy organizations from across Washington state have endorsed the approval of Referendum 74 to defend the state’s freedom to marry law. Why? Because marriage promotes the health and well-being of all children, not just the children of heterosexual couples.

This will make Christmas shopping all that much more joyous! The department store Nordstrom has come out in support of marriage equality and approval of Washington state’s Referendum 74.

Expedia released this stunning video in its Find Yours series. The caption reads, “Every trip is unique. On this trip, Artie Goldstein travels across the country to attend his daughter’s same-sex wedding, a journey that will test him, challenge him, and ultimately change him in unexpected ways.”

Test your skill at detecting anti-gay activists’ false claims! Preserve Marriage Washington, the group opposing Referendum 74, the ballot measure that would affirm Washington state’s new freedom to marry law, recently released this “Call to Pastors” video. Give it a listen and see if you can spot the seven false claims.

“Registered domestic partners in Washington State already have legal equality with married couples, and they possess all the legal rights and benefits of marriage.” This is the outright lie being promoted by the Roman Catholic bishops of Washington state and Preserve Marriage Washington, opponents of Referendum 74.

Today Washington United for Marriage, the broad coalition working to defend Washington state’s marriage law, kicked off their Approve Referendum 74 broadcast media campaign with the television ad “Boehler”.

Some excellent news from SurveyUSA, but don’t let it make you complacent. SurveyUSA recently asked 700 state of Washington adults “A new law passed by the legislature would allow same-sex couples to marry in Washington state. Should this law be approved? Or rejected?”. The response:

Approved – 56%
Rejected – 38%
Not Sure – 6%

Washington United for Marriage launched MarriageFactCheck.com “to provide rapid response to the misrepresentations and falsehoods raised by opponents of Referendum 74 and the bipartisan marriage law which allows all loving couples in Washington to marry.

Preserve Marriage Washington, the organization trying to repeal Washington’s new marriage equality law, recently urged supporters to download campaign flyers and hand them out to friends and neighbors. Although the PMW website has long displayed the slogans, talking points and essays provided by its parent organization National Organization for Marriage, the new flyers should indicate which talking points PMW has decided to emphasize in the closing months of the campaign. Let’s have a look at a few of them…