Archive Version of
Partners Task Force for Gay and Lesbian Couples
Online from 1995-2022

Demian and Steve Bryant originally founded Partners as a monthly newsletter in 1986. By late 1990 it was reformatted into a bi-monthly magazine. Print publication was halted by 1995 when Demian published Partners as a Web site, which greatly expanded readership.

In 1988, the Partners National Survey of Lesbian & Gay Couples report was published; the first major U.S. survey on same-sex couples in a decade.

In 1996, Demian produced The Right to Marry, a video documentary based on the dire need for equality that was made clear by the data from the survey mentioned above. The video featured interviews with Rev. Mel White, Evan Wolfson, Phyllis Burke, Richard Mohr, Kevin Cathcart, Faygele benMiriam, Benjamin Cable-McCarthy, Susan Reardon, Frances Fuchs, Tina Podlodowski, and Chelle Mileur.

Demian has been the sole operator during the last two decades of Partners.

Demian stopped work on Partners Task Force in order to realize his other time-consuming projects, which include publishing the book “Operating Manual for Same-Sex Couples: Navigating the rules, rites & rights” - which is now available on Amazon. The book is based on the Partners Survey mentioned above, his interviews of scores of couples, and 36 years of writing hundreds of articles about same-sex couples. It’s also been informed by his personal experience in a 20-year, same-sex relationship.

Demian’s other project is to publish his “Photo Stories by Demian” books based on his more than six decades as a photographer and writer.


Partners Task Force for Gay & Lesbian Couples
Demian, director    206-935-1206    demian@buddybuddy.com    Seattle, WA    Founded 1986

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Faith-Based Support for Legal Marriage
Religious Coalition for Equality - Washington
December 2004


The Religious Coalition for Equality is an interfaith association of lay persons and clergy committed to educate Washington State citizens about, and to advocate for, marriage equality for all couples, as well as for the civil rights of all people.

Statement of Faith-Based Support
for Same-Sex Marriage
We, the undersigned religious leaders of faith-based agencies, communities and congregations in the Greater Puget Sound region, join together to speak with one voice as we advocate for equal civil and legal rights for all couples in the State of Washington. Just as religious leaders before us have spoken to end slavery, and ensure equal rights to all persons regardless of gender or race, so we oppose any legislation that discriminates, in particular, limiting the civil rights of any couple to marry or join in union.

Love is a universal constant spoken of in all religions. To restrict the right of any couple to express their vows of love and form families through marriages or unions is an unconscionable violation of religious freedom. We believe that the government should never act to impose the beliefs of some religions upon others.

We oppose any effort to change the Constitution of the United States to enshrine discrimination into law. We believe that doing so infringes upon the rights of the individual states to regulate marriages. We further believe that, should such an amendment pass, it would violate the spirit of freedom for all people that the founders of our nation instilled in us.

We must speak out. We have participated or officiated in unions and marriages of same sex couples, some of us for many years, and have been profoundly moved by the sincere desire for tradition and stability within these families. We have seen how these unions have benefited and built community.

We call upon the Legislature of Washington State to take a stand against discrimination in our state by repealing the so-called “Defense of Marriage Act” enacted on February 6, 1998, and adopting legislation that extends equal rights to all couples. Many same sex couples have too long suffered the denial of basic rights that allow determination of medical care, care of children, and inheritance of mutual property. We call upon our legislators to resist any movement to amend the U.S. Constitution to restrict the union of any couple who wishes to marry. We in turn will engage in dialogue, education and direct action within the community to ensure that our voice is heard.

Marriage in our society is under attack, but not by same sex couples. It is undermined instead by spousal and child abuse, the trivialization of commitment, the breakdown of social support systems and the denial of legal recognition of the unions of same sex couples.

We speak for many in our communities who believe that the continued denial of the rights (rites) of marriage and union to same sex couples is a national shame. Our nation claims to stand for freedom and equality for all. We urge you to join us and advance that great tradition.

The Undersigned
(names of organization for identification purposes only)
Rev. Amanda Aikman, Northlake Unitarian Universalist Church, Kirkland
Rev. Thomas Anastasi, Shoreline Unitarian Universalist Church
Pastor Shannon Anderson, Central Lutheran Church
Rev. Jim Anderson, Unitarian Universalist
Rev. Jan B. Anderson,United Methodist
Rev. R. Samuel Askew, Sammamish Congregational
Rev. Barbara Baech, Beautiful Savior Lutheran Church, Vancouver, WA
Rev. Sally Balmer, Prospect Congregational United Church of Christ
Rev. Tina Maria Barbaro-Polis, Universal Life Church
Rev. Kay C. Barckley, University Temple United Methodist Church
Rev. Cathy Barker, Magnolia United Church of Christ
Rev. Roger W. Barr, Bear Creek United Methodist Church
Rev. Mia Baumgartner, Evangelical Lutheran Church in America
Rev. Paul Benz, Evangelical Lutheran Church in America
Rev. Robert Beveridge, Episcopal Church
Rev. Thomas S. Bigelow, St. Luke’s Episcopal Church
Rev. Ron Blake, United Church of Christ
Rev. Jan Bolerjack, Fall City United Methodist Church
Rabbi Dan Bridge, Hillel Foundation, University of Washington
Rev. Edward Brock, Edmonds Unitarian Universalist Church
Jennifer Garrison Brownell, Magnolia UCC
Rev. Susan Burchfield, Immanuel Lutheran Church
Rev. Thelma B. Burgonio-Watson, FaithTrust Institute
Rev. Kenneth Burr, LMFT, Seattle First Baptist Church
Rev. Heidi N. Calhoun, Newport Presbyterian Church, Bellevue
Rev. Arthur D. Campbell, United Methodist Church
Rev. Janet Campbell, St. Mark’s Cathedral
Rev. Jim Carter, Wallingford United Methodist Church
Rev. Michael T. Clifford, Evangelical Lutheran Church in America
Rev. Daniel G. Conklin, Epiphany Episcopal Parish, Seattle
Rev. Monica Corsaro, United Methodist Church
Rev. Gail Crouch, Bellevue Congregational United Church of Christ
Rev. Dr. Megan Crouse, United Church of Christ
Rev. Dr. Richard Cunningham, Christian Church (Disciples of Christ)
Pastor Craig Darling, Seattle First Baptist Church
Rev. Diane Darling, Alki United Church of Christ
Rt. Rev. Pierre C. Davis, Aquarian Tabernacle Church
Rev. Tim Devine, St. Paul’s United Church of Christ
Rev. Joan Dennehy, Findlay Street Christian Church, Seattle
Rev. Peter Drury, All Pilgrims Christian Church
Rev. Judi Edwards, United Church of Christ
Rev. Con Edwards, United Church of Christ
Deb Eichstedt, Unitarian Universalist
Rev. Dr. Dee Eisenhauer, Eagle Harbor Congregational United Church of Christ
Rev. Charles Elven, Oak Lake Baptist Church
Rabbi Cindy G. Enger, FaithTrust Institute
Rev. Diana Erickson, Presbyterian Church USA
Rev. Marvin D. Evans, University Unitarian Church of Seattle
Rabbi Ted Falcon, Bet Alef Meditative Synagogue
Rabbi Fern Feldman, Kadima Community
Rabbi David Fine, Union for Reform Judaism, Pacific NW Council
Rev. Shayne Flowers, All Pilgrims Christian Church
Rev. Paul L. Forman, Northshore United Church of Christ, Woodinville
Rev. Dr. Marie M. Fortune, FaithTrust Institute
Rev. Mary Jane Francis, Episcopal Church
Rev. Catherine Fransson, Seattle First Baptist Church
Marc Fredson, St. Mark’s Cathedral
Rev. Mark Gallagher Michael Servetus, Unitarian Universalist Church, Vancouver, WA
Rev. Martha Garrison, Seattle First Baptist Church
Rev. Nan Geer, Free Church Unitarian, Blaine, WA
Rev. Richard K. Gibson, Presbyterian Church USA
Rabbi Mark Glickman
Rabbi Seth Goldstein, Temple Beth Hatfiloh
Rev. Deacon Mary Gould, St. Mark’s Cathedral
Rev. Dr. George H. Grant, Harborview Medical Center
Rev. Kerry Grogan, Lake Washington Christian Church, Disciples of Christ
Rev. Penelope Guntermann, Evangelical Lutheran Church in America
Rev. Jo Gustafson, New Creation Community
Rev. Joy R. Haertig, Richmond Beach United Church of Christ
Rev. Robert Haertig, Northshore United Church of Christ
Rev. Gwen Hall, Sojourner Truth Unity Fellowship Church
Roy A. Hamrick
Rev. Mary E Hanke, Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.)
Rev. William Harper, Grace Church, Bainbridge Island
Rev. Linda A. Hart, Rainier Valley Unitarian Universalist Congregation
Rev. Vince Hart Tacoma, First United Methodist Church
Rev. Kathy Hartgraves, Crown Hill United Methodist Church
Bjoern-Erik Hartsfvang, SeaFire Coven, Wiccan Order of the Northern Lights
Susan K. Hogan, School of Theology and Ministry, Seattle University
Rev. Dennis Hollinger-Lant, Wayside United Church of Christ, Federal Way
Rev. Alex Holt Woodinville, Unitarian Universalist Church
Rev. Dr. C. Leon Hopper, East Shore Unitarian Church, Bellevue
Rev. Anne Hulse, Metropolitan Community Church, Seattle
Rev. John A. Huston, Episcopal Church
Rev. Randall Hyvonen, United Church of Christ Conference Minister
Rev. Peter Ilgenfritz, University Congregational United Church of Christ
Diaconal Minister Peter Jabin, University Temple United Methodist Church
Rev. E. Michael Jackson, St. Mark’s Cathedral retired
Rev. Richard Jaech, Beautiful Savior Lutheran Church, Vancouver, WA
Rev. Debra Jarvis, United Church of Christ
Rev. Carol A. Jensen, St. John United Lutheran Church
Rev. Kathryn Johnson, American Baptist
Dr. Stephen D. Jones, Seattle First Baptist Church
Janice E. Jones, Gethsemane Lutheran Referral Center
Rev. Kizzie E.Jones, Magnolia United Church of Christ
Rabbi Harley Karz-Wagman, Temple Beth Or, Everett
Rev. Margaret Keip, Kitsap Unitarian Universalist Fellowship, Bremerton
Rev. Elizabeth Kit Ketcham, Unitarian Universalist Congregations of Vashon and Whidbey Islands
Rev. David Kile, Seattle First Baptist Church
Rabbi Yohanna Kinberg, Temple B’nai Torah
Rev. Stephen King, Christian Church, Disciples of Christ
Rev. Kate Kinney, All Saints Episcopal Church, Seattle
Rev. Ronald D. Kirstein, American Baptist
Rev. Rick Koyle, University Unitarian Church
Rev. Dr. Thomas F. Krahn
 Rev. Tamalyn Kralman, First Christian Church (Disciples of Christ), Bellingham
Rev. David Kratz, Fauntleroy Church, United Church of Christ
Rev. Katie M. Ladd, Woodland Park United Methodist Church
Rev. Rich Lang, Trinity United Methodist Church
Rabbi Michael A. Latz, Kol HaNeshamah
Erynn Rowan Laurie, MARC, Druidic Community
Rabbi Anson Laytner, Multifaith Works
Dr. Valerie Lesniak
Rev. Tim Levine, St. Paul’s United Church of Christ
Rev. Dr. Kathianne Lewis, Center for Spiritual Living
Pr. John-Otto Liljenstolpe
Rev. John S. Lindsay, Evangelical Lutheran Church in America, Friday Harbor
Rev. Katy Lloyd, United Church of Christ
Rev. Randall A. Lord-Wilkinson, St. Paul’s Episcopal Church, Bremerton
Rev. Jon M. Luopa, University Unitarian Church
Rev. Dr. Peter J. Luton, East Shore Unitarian Church
Rev. Donald M. Mackenzie, University Congregational United Church of Christ
Rev. Dr. William L. Malcomson, American Baptist
Rev. Denise A. Whitesel Mallek, St. Paul’s United Methodist Church
Rev. Penny Matthews, Alki Congregational United Church of Christ
Carol McKinley, Unitarian Universalist
Rev. Devin McLachlan, St. Mark’s Cathedral
Rabbi James L. Mirel, Temple B’nai Torah
Rev. Sharon L. Moe, United Methodist Church
Rev. Sonya Montana, Community Unitarian Universalist Church, Kennewick
Willow Moon, HPS, The Illustrated Grove
Rev. Peg Boyle Morgan, West Seattle Unitarian Universalist Fellowship
Rev. Chris Morton, United Church of Christ
Rev. James T. Mulligan, Presbyterian Church USA, Seattle Presbytery
Rev. Monica S. Myers, Northwest Christian Church, Disciples of Christ, Ballard
Helen Bengtson Nash, Elder, Newport Presbyterian Church
Rev. Gerald S. Nash, Presbyterian Church USA
Rev. David B Nelson, Plymouth Congregational UCC, Seattle (Ret)
Rev. Dr. Mark Newton, West Seattle Unitarian Universalist Fellowship
Rev. Tom Nielsen, American Baptist
Timothy O’Brien, Dharmachari Amara
Rev. Jack Olive, University Temple United Methodist Church
Rev. Eldon Olson, Evangelical Lutheran Church of America
Rev. Sam Osborne, Hagia Sophia Gnostic Church, Seattle
Genjo Marinello, Osho Dai Bai Zan Cho Bo Ji, Seattle Zen Temple
Rev. Kris Anderson Ostrem, Plymouth Congregational Church
Flora Ostrow, Tikvah Chadashah President of Congregation
Kathleen Peppard, Community for Interfaith Celebration, Olympia Lay Leader
Rabbi Shifra Weiss Penzias, Temple de Hirsch Sinai
Rev. Greg Peters, All Saints Episcopal Church, Seattle
Rev. Carolyn Peterson, First UMC, Olympia
Rev. Timothy Phillips, University Baptist Church
Rev. Mark Poole, University Temple United Methodist Church
Rev. Steven E. Poole, Seattle First United Methodist Church
Rev. Paul Pruitt, United Church of Christ
Rev. Dr. Walter B. Pulliam, American Baptist Churches USA
Rev. Jeanne M. Pupke, Unitarian Universalist
Rev. Dr. Ann Holmes Redding, St. Mark’s Cathedral
Elder Leon Reed, New Wiccan Church, Seattle Northwest Magus
Rabbi Phillip Rice, Temple De Hirsch Sinai
Rabbi Laurie Rice, Congregation Kol Ami
Rev. Anthony B. Robinson, United Church of Christ
Rev. Laurie Rudel, Queen Anne Christian Church
Rev. Cynthia L. Salo, Holy Spirit Lutheran Church
Lenora M. Sanchez, Unitarian Universalist, Federal Way
Rabbi Marna Sapsowitz, Olympia
Rev. Adrienne Schlosser-Hall, Presbytery of Seattle
Rev. Kempton Segerhammar, Gethsemane Lutheran Church
Cantor David Serkin-Poole, Temple B’nai Torah
Rev. Jack Severns, United Methodist Church
Rev. Muriel Severns, United Methodist Church
Rev. Edward J. Shields, Dignity Seattle & Multifaith Works/MARC
Rev. David Shinn, Plymouth Congregational Church, Seattle
Rev. Gary Shoemaker, First Christian Church, Bellingham
Pastor Jon Short Mason, United Methodist Church
Rev. David Shull, University Congregational United Church of Christ
Jeff Siddiqui, American Muslims of Puget Sound
Lauren B. Simonds, National Council of Jewish Women
Rev. Patricia Simpson, Church of Mary Magdalene
Rabbi Jonathan Singer, Temple Beth Am
Rabbi Beth Singer, Temple Beth Am
Rev. Dr. Montgomery Smith, Tacoma First United Methodist Church
Rev. Tom Sorenson, Monroe Congregational United Church of Christ
Rev. Gary Southerton
Rev. Jeffrey S. Spencer, United Church of Christ
Rev. Elizabeth H. Stevens, Kitsap Unitarian Universalist Fellowship
Rev. Daniel K. Stern, Broadview Community United Church of Christ
Rev. David C. Strong, Community Church of Joy, Seattle
Stuart Stuple, SeaFire Coven of the Wiccan Order of Northern Lights, Redmond
Rev. Karen Summers, First Presbyterian Church, Everett Interim Associate Pastor
Crystal Sygeel, First United Methodist Church, Bellevue
Rev. Karen B. Taliesin, Children’s Hospital and Regional Medical Center Chaplain
The Very Reverend Robert V. Taylor, St. Mark’s Cathedral
Rev. Patricia L. Taylor, Episcopal Church
Rev. Terry Teigen, Admiral Congregational United Church of Christ
Rev. John Torretta, University Lutheran Church
Rev. Mark Travis, All Pilgrims Christian Church
Rev. Murray Trelease, Episcopal Church
Rev. Nyer Urness, Compass Center
Rev. Arthur Vaeni, Olympia Unitarian Universalist Congregation
Rev. Jean H. Vandergrift, University Christian Church
Rev. Doris Waggoner, United Church of Christ
Rev. Susan Wanwig, Compass Center
Rev. James T. Watson, United Church of Christ, Mercer Island
Rev. Dick Weaver, United Church of Christ
Rabbi Daniel Weiner, Temple de Hirsch-Sinai
Rabbi Zari M. Weiss
Rev. Mark Edward Williams, Woodland Park United Methodist Church
Rev. Jack W. Wilson, Presbyterian Church USA
Fr. Robert Withrow, St. Aelred’s Parish, Tacoma, Apostolic Catholic Church in America
Rev. Melvin R. Woodworth, First United Methodist Church, Bellevue
David R. Wright, Presbytery of Seattle

Religious Coalition for Equality
206-930-6253
stankehl@religiouscoalition-wa.org
www.religiouscoalition-wa.org

Religious Support for Ceremonial Marriage
Religious Support for the Legal Right to Marry


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