2012 Election
One Question for the Boeing Union
The biggest story coming out of Referendum 74 fundraising so far has been the Bezos family’s $2.5 million contribution to Washington United for Marriage, believed to be the biggest donation ever in support of gay marriage.
What’s easy to lose in the hubbub, though, is that there’s a story behind every donation, regardless of size.
The Aerospace Machinists Industrial Union 751 , which represents Boeing workers, has historically been mum in the marriage equality fight. While blue-collar grocery and health care workers have backed the effort as long as it's been at issue in the state, the traditionally socially conservative machinists had endorsed neither the domestic partnership rights campaign, R-71, in 2009, nor the vote on marriage equality in the state legislature earlier this year.
This summer, though, the union gave their endorsement to R-74. And on August 1, they backed up their support with a $2,500 donation, the biggest gift since the Bezos check.
We asked Larry Brown, political and legislative director of the union, for the story behind the union’s decision to take a louder stance on marriage equality.
Our question: Has there been a cultural shift within your union that’s prompted your support for R-74?
Here’s Brown’s response:
If you've got "One Question" you'd like us to ask, send suggestions to [email protected].
What’s easy to lose in the hubbub, though, is that there’s a story behind every donation, regardless of size.
The Aerospace Machinists Industrial Union 751 , which represents Boeing workers, has historically been mum in the marriage equality fight. While blue-collar grocery and health care workers have backed the effort as long as it's been at issue in the state, the traditionally socially conservative machinists had endorsed neither the domestic partnership rights campaign, R-71, in 2009, nor the vote on marriage equality in the state legislature earlier this year.
This summer, though, the union gave their endorsement to R-74. And on August 1, they backed up their support with a $2,500 donation, the biggest gift since the Bezos check.
We asked Larry Brown, political and legislative director of the union, for the story behind the union’s decision to take a louder stance on marriage equality.
Our question: Has there been a cultural shift within your union that’s prompted your support for R-74?
Here’s Brown’s response:
I think like all humans and human institutions, we grow and we change, and we transform. This is not a monolithic organization; our union stands for social justice, and this seems like the right time to come out for the right position on this initiative.
Our legislature passed it, the people approved, we have domestic same-gender partnership benefits at Boeing now, and have had for a while. It just seemed like the right time.
If you've got "One Question" you'd like us to ask, send suggestions to [email protected].
