Washington State Senate Passes Gay Marriage
Bill
Published: February 1, 2012 - New York Times
SEATTLE — Washington appeared almost certain to become
the seventh state to allow same-sex
marriage after the State Senate voted late Wednesday for a measure that
would allow gay and lesbian couples to marry beginning this summer.
Supporters had considered the Senate to be the more
challenging chamber in which to pass the bill, but it was approved easily, by a
vote of 28 to 21, after less than 90 minutes of debate. The measure now moves to
the House, where it has wide support and could be voted on as soon as next week.
Gov. Christine Gregoire has urged the bill’s approval. The governor is a
Democrat, and both legislative chambers are controlled by Democrats.
“Regardless of how you vote on this bill, an
invitation will be in the mail,” Senator Ed Murray of Seattle, the prime sponsor
in the Senate, said in his final remarks before the vote. Mr. Murray, who is
gay, has noted many times publicly that he and his longtime partner hope to
marry in their home state.
The measure, echoing one passed in New York last June,
includes language assuring religious groups that they would not be required to
marry same-sex couples or allow them to marry in their facilities. Washington
would join New York, Massachusetts, Connecticut, New Hampshire, Vermont and Iowa
as states where same-sex couples can marry. Washington, D.C., also allows
same-sex marriage.
Washington has steadily expanded rights for gay and
lesbian couples since 2006, when it approved domestic partnerships. In 2009, it
passed a so-called everything-but-marriage bill, which was challenged in a
public referendum and upheld by voters, 53 to 47. Opponents of the marriage bill
say they will challenge it in a referendum this fall. The Roman Catholic Church
is among the opponents.
The floor debate late Wednesday was civil and
relatively succinct.
Before the final vote, senators rejected an amendment
to put the matter before voters in a referendum. Some people who later supported
the bill also supported putting it up for a referendum. One of the leading
opponents, Senator Dan Swecker, a Republican, said he worried that approving
same-sex marriage would “create a hostile environment for those of us who
believe in traditional marriage.”
A few Republicans joined Democrats in support of the
bill. Speaking in favor, Senator Steve Litzow, a Republican of Mercer Island,
noted the many benefits of marriage but also its challenges. “We cannot
guarantee the outcome of that pursuit,” he said. “The legislation’s good, but
it’s not that good.”