Tagged: gay rights

OLYMPIA - Washington Governor Chris Gregoire is emerging as an unlikely gay rights activist - both at home and on the national stage. Her role in helping pass a same-sex marriage law this year has made Gregoire a sought-after spokesperson for the movement.

OLYMPIA, Wash. — Gov. Chris Gregoire will sign a measure legalizing gay marriage in Washington state into law on today.

OLYMPIA, Wash. – Gay marriage supporters are thrilled. Opponents are gearing up for a ballot fight. That's the dynamic after the Washington House voted Wednesday to send a same-sex marriage bill to the governor.

Up in the marble nosebleeds, proponents of gay marriage watched the debate quietly. But when the vote was tallied the celebration went on for more than a minute.

Susan Fairo cheered with her partner of 17 years. "I'm relieved, I'm delighted," she said. "It felt like a historic moment. So, we're a step farther."

Governor Chris Gregoire has five days to sign it into law. But not everyone was applauding. Several gay marriage opponents sat with faces grim.

OLYMPIA, Wash. – A bill to legalize same-sex marriage is in the hands of Governor Chris Gregoire. It passed the Washington House Wedesday with a 55-43 vote. During the three-hour debate, many lawmakers shared their own personal stories.

Democrat Jamie Pedersen, who is openly gay, spoke of how same-sex marriage would affect his own family.

"I would like for our four children to grow up understanding that their daddy and their papa have made that kind of a life-long commitment to each other," Pedersen says. "Marriage is the word that we use in our society to convey that idea."

Opponents like Republican Norma Smith said this debate has caused her to reflect on her own marriage and what it meant to the young people she has mentored.

OLYMPIA, Wash. — The Washington state Legislature has voted to legalize gay marriage, setting the stage for the state to become the seventh in the nation to allow same-sex couples to wed.

OLYMPIA, Wash. – Gay marriage isn’t the law in Washington yet, but national opponents are already preparing for a repeal campaign.

Tuesday's ruling overturning California’s ban on same-sex marriage is not expected to affect similar laws in other states. Oregon and Idaho also have voter-approved amendments against gay marriage.

But Washington lawmakers are poised to send Governor Chris Gregoire a measure allowing gays and lesbians to marry.

California's Proposition 8 ban on same-sex marriages is unconstitutional, a three-judge panel of the U.S. 9th Circuit Court of Appeals ruled today in a much-anticipated decision from the nation's most populous state. The judges upheld a lower court's ruling.

As you'd expect, the ruling has drawn praise from those who support same-sex marriage and condemnation from those who oppose it. Both sides acknowledge that the decision isn't the last word on the subject — an appeal to the U.S. Supreme Court is expected.

We posted updates on the decision (which you can read below) and as reaction came in.

Update at 1:54 p.m. ET. Newt Gingrich Condemns Decision:

OLYMPIA, Wash. — A House committee approved a measure to legalize same-sex marriage in Washington state, setting the stage for final passage this week.

Wednesday night the Washington State Senate voted in support of same-sex marriages by a 28 to 21 vote. Gay and lesbian citizens around the state support the idea, but for some, wedding bells don’t sound so appealing.

A survey of this morning’s reactions to the Washington state Senate vote last night to approve same-sex marriage netted the full range of threats, promises and celebrations … but also this from one Twitter user chasingray:

“That sound you hear is florists & bakers cheering like mad thruout Seattle. The #gaymarriage bill just passed the Senate.“