Welcome to DU!
The truly grassroots left-of-center political community where regular people, not algorithms, drive the discussions and set the standards.
Join the community:
Create a free account
Support DU (and get rid of ads!):
Become a Star Member
Latest Breaking News
General Discussion
The DU Lounge
All Forums
Issue Forums
Culture Forums
Alliance Forums
Region Forums
Support Forums
Help & Search
LGBT
Related: About this forumWashington State Passes Same-Sex Marriage Bill
The measure easily passed the State Senate last week, 28 to 21, despite concerns that the vote would be close.
The developments in Washington parallel an appeals court decision in California on Tuesday in which a panel of judges ruled 2 to 1 to strike down that states ban on same-sex marriage, known as Proposition 8. The two deciding judges wrote that the ban violated the Constitutions Equal Protection Clause.
Washington is among more than 30 states that have passed laws defining marriage as between a man and a woman, but it has steadily expanded rights for gay couples since 2007. That year, the Democratically controlled Legislature approved domestic partnerships. In 2009, it passed an everything but marriage bill. Full marriage rights began speeding toward approval last month, when Ms. Gregoire, a Democrat, announced that she would support the bill to make same-sex marriage legal.
The governor had previously said that she did not believe the state was ready for same-sex marriage and that churches should play a decisive role on the issue. Ms. Gregoires marriage bill, modeled after one approved by New York last June, allows churches and religious groups to choose not to perform same-sex marriages and to deny same-sex couples access to their facilities for marriage services.
New York Times
InfoView thread info, including edit history
TrashPut this thread in your Trash Can (My DU » Trash Can)
BookmarkAdd this thread to your Bookmarks (My DU » Bookmarks)
6 replies, 1601 views
ShareGet links to this post and/or share on social media
AlertAlert this post for a rule violation
PowersThere are no powers you can use on this post
EditCannot edit other people's posts
ReplyReply to this post
EditCannot edit other people's posts
Rec (21)
ReplyReply to this post
6 replies
= new reply since forum marked as read
Highlight:
NoneDon't highlight anything
5 newestHighlight 5 most recent replies
Washington State Passes Same-Sex Marriage Bill (Original Post)
Duncan Grant
Feb 2012
OP
MuseRider
(34,119 posts)1. :-) n/t
xchrom
(108,903 posts)2. Excellent. Nt
William769
(55,147 posts)3. New Jersey is going to vote next week and Illinois is bringing it up again.
I don't know if my heart can take this.
WillParkinson
(16,862 posts)4. That's OK...
It looks like you have plenty to spare.
racaulk
(11,550 posts)5. Not to mention the positive developments in Maine and California.
This is a good problem to have!
Fearless
(18,421 posts)6. Wonderful!