The Washington state legislature is on track to maintain its 6-member caucus of openly LGBT lawmakers after Laurie Jinkins (pictured) advanced in her primary last night.  The Tacoma-area candidate could become Washington’s only openly lesbian lawmaker if she wins the general election this November to represent District 27 in the State House.

Also in Washington, State Sen. Joe McDermott garnered almost 60% of the vote in his primary race for a seat on the King County Council.  State Sen. Ed Murray and State Reps. Marko Llias, Jim Moeller, Dave Upthegrove and Jamie Pedersen also advanced in their reelection bids.

In Wyoming, State Rep. Cathy Connolly was unopposed in her primary race.

Some 50 openly LGBT candidates endorsed by the Victory Fund face primary races between now and the general election in November.  Stay tuned to Gay Politics for updates about key races as we head toward Election Day 2010.

Fortunately, equal marriage advocates have some good news today, despite the upset witnessed yesterday in New York.  Washington Gov. Chris Gregoire has certified the results of last month’s elections, including the approval of Referendum 71 to maintain domestic partner benefits.  As of 12:01 this morning, same-sex couples in the state are eligible to be registered as domestic partners, granting all the rights and responsibilities of heterosexual marriage without the name.

The Washington secretary of state blogged about the certification of the results:

Referendum 71, placed on the ballot by foes of same-sex marriage, was approved by a margin of more than 110,000 votes, or more than 6 percentage points. National media describe it as the country’s first voter-approved domestic partnership or “everything-but-marriage” law.

The new law had been on hold pending the public vote, and will now go into effect at 12:01 a.m. Thursday, 30 days after the Nov. 3 General Election.  The law is Senate Bill 5688 and applies to state-registered domestic partners, both same-sex couples and opposite-sex couples where at least one partner is 62 or older.

The Supreme Court may be tasked with deciding whether the names of petition-signers who support Washington state’s Referendum 71 will be revealed or kept confidential.  The referendum will ask voters statewide to overturn laws granting extensive rights to registered domestic partners in the state.

Petitioners have asked the Supreme Court to block a recent court decision ordering the names to be made public.  Associate Justice Anthony Kennedy today asked the state of Washington to submit a written statement on the matter, and has in the meantime blocked the release of the names. The Associated Press reports:

Kennedy’s ruling Monday temporarily blocks a federal appeals court ruling last week that ordered the release of the names. Kennedy said his order would remain in effect while he considers a request by a pro-marriage group that asked him to reverse the appeals court ruling.

Bringing this case to the Supreme Court could affect future petitions for anti-gay measures by establishing a precedent of whether those petitioners can expect anonymity.

A federal appeals court today reversed a lower court decision by granting the Washington Secretary of State permission to release the names and addresses of Referendum 71 petitioners.  Those seeking to repeal Washington State’s domestic partnershp law are opposed to the names being released in fear of “harrassment” from pro-gay supporters.

The Associated Press reports on the aftermath of the ruling:

Despite the appeals court ruling, the names weren’t immediately released.

Janelle Guthrie, a spokeswoman for Attorney General Rob McKenna, said her office must now ask a Thurston County judge to lift a temporary restraining order issued Wednesday forbidding the release of the petitions until the 9th Circuit could rule.

“These petitions are not like a secret ballot, but amount to taking part in our legislative process, which is required to be open and accountable,” Secretary of State Sam Reed said.

Referendum 71 seeks to repeal, by popular veto, a domestic partnerships bill passed by the Washington legislature.

Those who wish to undo domestic partnership benefits laws in Washington state have a steep hill to climb, according to a new poll, which finds 66% of registered voters favor either full marriage equality or domestic partner benefits for same-sex couples.

The poll’s authors write:

The debate over the legal recognition of same sex couples will no doubt remain controversial forsome time in Washington State. Despite this, granting lesbian and gay couples the rights of marriage in their entirety in the form of domestic partnerships is a position supported by amajority of Washingtonians. This support is widespread across demographic groups, and is a majority position for those in the political middle. While some demographic groups, including conservatives and Republicans, are far from having majorities that support full domestic partnerships, most other demographic groups are evenly split or have strong majorities that support them. Further, our data reveal that support for same‐sex partnership rights has grown each year, suggesting an increasing tolerance in Washington State.

Referendum 71, which would overturn state laws expanding domestic partner benefits for same-sex couples, earned a spot on the next statewide ballot after marriage equality opponents collected the necessary 120,577 signatures to put the law up to a popular vote.