For more information, contact:
Ken Harvey, Communications Director
360.651.7030 email: [email protected]
For immediate release
September 21, 2012
Local Panelists Discuss Same-Sex Marriage Referendum 74
at Two “Issues That Matter” Forums
Marysville, Wash. — The public has the opportunity to listen to local panelists on the
pros and cons of the hot topic of the state’s marriage laws at two upcoming “Issues That
Matter” panel discussions before casting their votes on R-74. On the November ballot, voters
will ratify or reject the referendum on Washington state's recent law legalizing same-sex
marriage.
The first panel discussion will be held on Tuesday, Sept. 25 at 7 p.m., at the Edmonds
Community College Black Box Theatre. The second panel discussion will be on Thursday, Sept.
27 at 7 p.m., at the Oak Harbor Library.
These “Issues That Matter” panel discussions are presented free to the public by SnoIsle Libraries and funded by the Sno-Isle Libraries Foundation to encourage community
conversations on high-profile current issues and to enable area voters to be better informed
about issues on the state ballot.
The featured panelists on Sept. 25 are:

Joseph Backholm, Chairman, Preserve Marriage Washington
Joseph Backholm is the chairman of the committee for Preserve Marriage Washington
and Referendum 74. He is also the executive director of the Family Policy Institute of
Washington. His job is to train leaders to be more effective public policy advocates,
promote marriage, life, religious freedom, and parental rights in the state legislature,
and help the public hold elected officials accountable for decisions they make.

Dr. Joe Fuiten, Pastor, Cedar Park Church
-more-
Sno-Isle Libraries News Release
Page 2 of 3
Joe Fuiten has served as pastor of Cedar Park Church in Bothell for the past 31 years. He
is the founder of Cedar Park Counseling Network, Cedar Park Christian Asian Counseling
service, and Cedar Park Christian Schools. He also served as state chairman for the
presidential campaigns of John Ashcroft, Mike Huckabee, and Newt Gingrich as well as
state chair for Social Conservatives for Bush-Cheney.

Judge Anne Levinson (retired), Washington United for Marriage
In 2006, Judge Levinson (ret.) led the Approve R-65 campaign to stop the attempted
repeal of the state law against discrimination based on sexual orientation and gender
identity. In 2009, she led the Approve R-71 campaign, which resulted in Washington
becoming the first state in the country to vote in favor of relationship recognition for
LGBT families. She is currently advising the Approve R-74 Washington United for
Marriage campaign.

State Rep. Marko Liias
Since January 2008, Representative Marko Liias has been serving in the Washington
State House of Representatives representing the 21st legislative district. He spoke
during the floor debate in support of SB 6239, which was subsequently signed into law
on Feb. 9, 2012, legalizing same-sex marriage in our state. He received his bachelor’s
degree from Georgetown University and completed graduate-level courses in public
administration at the University of Washington.
The featured panelists on Sept. 27 are:

Joseph Backholm, Chairman, Preserve Marriage Washington
(see bio above)

Dr. Joe Fuiten, Pastor, Cedar Park Church
(see bio above)

Joshua Friedes, Spokesperson, Equal Rights Washington
Josh Friedes was the campaign manager of Washington Families Standing Together
(WAFST), the coalition behind the successful campaign to Approve Washington
Referendum 71 and secure full domestic partnership rights for Washington’s lesbian and
gay couples. He is on the Governance Board of Washington United for Marriage, and is
the spokesperson for Equal Rights Washington, the largest LGBT-rights organization in
the state.

Rev. Rachel Taber-Hamilton, Trinity Episcopal Church
Reverend Taber-Hamilton has been a priest in the Diocese of Olympia (Western
Washington) since 2003. She has served on the diocesan Anti-Racism Team and Ethnic
Ministries Committee. She has also served as liaison from the diocese to state Governor
Sno-Isle Libraries News Release
Page 3 of 3
Christine Gregoire’s Faith Advisory Council in the development of a state-wide disaster
response plan that incorporates and activates the resources of faith communities.
The panels will be moderated by Dr. Marshall Goldberg, a retired physician, and a board
member for both the Oak Harbor Sno-Isle Library and the League of Women Voters of Whidbey
Island. He promotes civil discourse as a way to further authentic democracy in our society.
Audience members will have the opportunity to submit questions through the
moderator. Come early; seating is limited. No tickets are required.
Sno-Isle Libraries and the Sno-Isle Libraries Foundation are neutral on topics covered by
“Issues That Matter” programs. The Library invites the public to learn more about different
viewpoints on marriage and related issues by using the Libraries’ substantial physical, digital
and virtual online resources, such as books, audio and ebooks, credible research databases, and
websites which can be found through the Sno-Isle Libraries’ website at: www.snoisle.org/explore/issuesthatmatter/.
About Sno-Isle Libraries
Sno-Isle Libraries serves 671,000 residents in Snohomish and Island counties. Sno-Isle
has community libraries in Arlington, Brier, Camano Island, Clinton, Coupeville, Darrington,
Edmonds, Freeland, Granite Falls, Lake Stevens, Langley, Lynnwood, Marysville, Mill Creek,
Monroe, Mountlake Terrace, Mukilteo, Oak Harbor, Snohomish, Stanwood, and Sultan, as well
as bookmobile stops in communities and at senior centers. Services and materials include more
than 1.2 million items, reference services, electronic databases and computer equipment,
Internet access, outreach programs for the homebound and local daycares, and story times for
children. For more information on library services in your area, please call the Sno-Isle Libraries
Service Center at 360-651-7000 or 1-877-SNO-ISLE (1-877-766-4753), or visit the website at
www.sno-isle.org.
###