Washington (State) Passes Gay Marriage Bill

[bradl]

And hot on the heels of the Prop. 8 ruling (and why I'm starting a new thread), this just came down the local news wire in Sacramento:

http://www.sacbee.com/2012/02/08/424...o-approve.html

Washington state lawmakers pass gay marriage bill
Associated Press
Published Wednesday, Feb. 08, 2012

OLYMPIA, Wash. -- Washington state lawmakers voted to approve gay marriage Wednesday, setting the stage for the state to become the seventh in the nation to allow same-sex couples to wed.

The action comes a day after a federal appeals court declared California's ban on gay marriage unconstitutional, saying it was a violation of the civil rights of gay and lesbian couples.

The Washington House passed the bill on a 55-43 vote. The state Senate approved the measure last week. And Democratic Gov. Chris Gregoire is expected to sign the measure into law next week.

However, gay couples can't begin walking down the aisle just yet.

The proposal would take effect 90 days after the governor signs, but opponents have promised to fight gay marriage with a ballot measure that would allow voters to overturn the legislative approval.

If opponents gather enough signatures to take their fight to the ballot box, the law would be put on hold pending the outcome of a November election.

Otherwise gay couples could wed starting in June.

Washington state has had domestic partnership laws since 2007, and more than a dozen other states have provisions, ranging from civil unions to gay marriage, supporting same-sex couples.

Gay marriage is legal in New York, Connecticut, Iowa, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Vermont and Washington D.C.

Lawmakers in New Jersey are expected to vote on gay marriage next week, and Maine could see a gay marriage proposal on the November ballot.

Proposed amendments to ban gay marriage will be on the ballots in North Carolina in May and in Minnesota in November.

The San Francisco-based 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals on Tuesday ruled against California's voter-approved same-sex marriage ban, known as Proposition 8.

The three-judge panel gave gay marriage opponents time to appeal the 2-1 decision before ordering the state to allow same-sex weddings to resume. The judges also said the decision only applies to California, even though the court has jurisdiction in nine western states.

Lawyers for the coalition of conservative religious groups that sponsored Proposition 8 said they have not decided if they will seek a new 9th Circuit hearing or file an appeal directly to the U.S. Supreme Court.

Washington state's momentum for same-sex marriage has been building and the debate has changed significantly since 1998, when lawmakers passed Washington's Defense of Marriage Act banning gay marriage. The constitutionality of that law ultimately was upheld by the state Supreme Court in 2006. But earlier that year, a gay civil rights measure passed after nearly 30 years of failure, signaling a change in the Legislature.

The quick progression of domestic partnership laws in the state came soon after, with a domestic partnership law in 2007, and two years of expansion that culminated in 2009 with "everything but marriage" expansion that was upheld by voters.

In October, a University of Washington poll found that an increasing number of people in the state support same-sex marriage. About 43 percent of respondents said they support gay marriage, up from 30 percent in the same poll five years earlier. Another 22 percent said they support giving identical rights to gay couples, without calling the unions "marriage."

If a challenge to gay marriage law was on the ballot, 55 percent said they would vote to uphold the law. And 38 percent said they would vote to reject a gay marriage law.

The gay marriage bill also has the backing of several prominent Pacific Northwest businesses, including Microsoft, Nike and Starbucks.

---

The gay marriage bill is Senate Bill 6239.

I can see this hitting the 9th Circuit if this law, assuming it gets signed, is challenged. The Prop. 8 ruling now carries a lot of weight for the region.

BL.

[Rodimus Prime]

Only 43 more states to go.

[Grey Beard]

Lucky number seven. This is indeed very good news.

KGB

[Peace]

I wish Washington State would legalize marijuana.

They are very very close to being the first state to do so.

[ct2k7]

I am literally watching The West Wing, SE02, EP07: The Portland Trip.

"The President is taking a red-eye with Toby, Sam, and C.J. to Portland, Oregon, to deliver an education address. At the White House, Josh spars with a gay Republican congressman over a bill on same-sex marriage, and Leo monitors a situation involving a U.S. company that is selling black-market oil from Iraq because the sanctions are a joke. Sam doubts his writing ability when he can't find an inspiring tone for the speech. "

[Sydde]

One nice thing about Washington State is that a Prop. 8 is not quite possible: there is an initiative process (which has been heavily abused for over a decade), but constitutional amendments are not possible except through the legislature.

[Moyank24]

The Dominos keep falling...Yay for the Gays!

[SactoGuy18]

Now this is doing it the correct way--actually it putting down as a real law recognizing same-sex marriages. Makes life a lot easier, especially in details like filing status for tax payments (Washington state has various taxes but not an income tax) and splitting of community property in case of divorce.

[tktaylor1]

Originally Posted by Peace

I wish Washington State would legalize marijuana.

They are very very close to being the first state to do so.

God, I wish TN would legalize it. I need some right now.

[mobilehaathi]

Sweet, slowly but surely...

[leekohler]

Wow- it's a bad week to be a bigot! This is awesome!

[jav6454]

Originally Posted by leekohler

Wow- it's a bad week to be a bigot! This is awesome!

Bigot is as bigot does... they may have lost this. But trust me, they will come back. They always do, they are like the T-1000 of crap (filter doesn't allow me to say the other word).

No mater how many times they are proven wrong, they just keep blabbing on $h!t from their mouths.

On a side note, hurray for equality.

[mrsir2009]

"Civil unions" doesn't count as "Gay marriage", does it?

[Grey Beard]

Originally Posted by mrsir2009

"Civil unions" doesn't count as "Gay marriage", does it?

No it doesn't in New Zealand if that's what you are asking. Oh and you are not old enough anyway.

KGB

[Sydde]

The US is home to a group people who make Tomas de Torquemada seem laid back. Even allowing legal, same-sex partnerships can be a brutal contest. Some folks just cannot be happy unless they know that no one else is

[mrsir2009]

Originally Posted by Grey Beard

No it doesn't in New Zealand if that's what you are asking. Oh and you are not old enough anyway.

KGB

[Queen of Spades]

Originally Posted by Moyank24

The Dominos keep falling...Yay for the Gays!

The idea of marriage still makes me want to go running in the opposite direction, but it's nice to have the option. Can't believe how much money gets wasted on both sides dealing with this, though.

Also, you are obsessed with D.E.B.S. It's a favorite of mine, too.

[Happybunny]

In 2012 why is this still a problem?

I thought your Declaration of Independence, gave the right to Life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness

This is a basic human right, not a favour, a right

Seen through the eyes of a Dutch man, all these problems are so mean spiteful and petty.

[Moyank24]

Originally Posted by Queen of Spades

The idea of marriage still makes me want to go running in the opposite direction, but it's nice to have the option. Can't believe how much money gets wasted on both sides dealing with this, though.

Also, you are obsessed with D.E.B.S. It's a favorite of mine, too.

What kind of lesbians would we be if it wasn't a favorite?

[Shrink]

For once, a little good news on the Gay Rights front.

It's so upsetting to read the usual stuff about the mistreatment of the LBGT community (especially the kids), it's a pleasure to see one more state (finally) make a rational choice.

[h00ligan]

Good For them.

[MadeTheSwitch]

Originally Posted by Happybunny

In 2012 why is this still a problem?

I thought your Declaration of Independence, gave the right to Life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness

This is a basic human right, not a favour, a right

I agree but then we have people like Santorum thinking it isn't a right or Tony (Closet Case) Perkins who thinks it's a "special" right. Whatever that means...it's not "special" to want to be equal.

Seen through the eyes of a Dutch man, all these problems are so mean spiteful and petty.

Seen through the eyes of an American, it often looks that way too. Because they are.

[thekev]

Originally Posted by MadeTheSwitch

I agree but then we have people like Santorum thinking it isn't a right or Tony (Closet Case) Perkins who thinks it's a "special" right. Whatever that means...it's not "special" to want to be equal.



Seen through the eyes of an American, it often looks that way too. Because they are.

You should consider that he might be the one that is "special".

[Designer Dale]

Originally Posted by mrsir2009

"Civil unions" doesn't count as "Gay marriage", does it?

Washington's previous law allowed "domestic partnerships" which included all legal rights of marriage except marriage itself. It was passed by a vote of the people in 2007 or so. The new law was passed by the same folks who can't balance a budget. Go figure.

Many happy unions and split-ups to all my fruity friends...


Dale

[chrono1081]

This is great news.

One thing I wondered, and excuse my ignorance on the subject, but can gay people travel to states who allow gay marriage and get married there if their state doesn't support it?

I just wondered since people drive to Vegas to get married all the time.