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Washington state may soon allow same-sex couples to wed—poised to become the seventh state to take such a step in a growing nationwide debate.
In an emotional session in Olympia last week, the state Senate passed the bill, 28-21, with several Republicans crossing party lines to support the measure. This week, the bill goes to the House, where it is likely to pass, said Sen. Ed Murray, a Democrat and the bill’s sponsor. Gov. Chris Gregoire has pledged she will readily sign the bill if it makes it to her desk.
Opponents of same-gender unions have vowed to fight the Washington United for Marriage bill, promising to file an initiative that could appear on the November ballot. But the roadmap of opposition became cloudier as the U.S. 9th Circuit Court of Appeals this week handed down its decision on California’s Proposition 8, a citizen’s initiative in that state banning such partnerships.
The panel of federal judges found the 2008 ballot measure limiting marriage to one man and one woman, violated the U.S. Constitution’s equal protection clause.
“Proposition 8 served no purpose, and had no effect, other than to lessen the status and human dignity of gays and lesbians,” the court said, with the majority agreeing with retired Chief U.S. District Judge Vaughn R. Walker that the state had no interest in forbidding such unions. The ruling was narrow and likely to be limited to California, but sets the stage for the issue to be heard by the U.S. Supreme Court as early as next year.
Supporters of same-gender marriage in Washington hailed the decision as they await the vote of the state House to allow such unions here.
Northwest Washington’s 40th and 42nd District representatives remain sharply divided along party lines. Sen. Doug Ericksen of Ferndale joined his Republican colleagues in a vote against the bill. Orcas Island lawmaker Sen. Kevin Ranker delivered an emotional vote and a personal story as he voted enthusiastically in favor of the bill.
“As the son of a gay man, my personal story is one of growing up in a society that questioned my family,” the freshman Democrat said. “When my father came out, many in our community, and some in my own family, refused to accept it.
“For decades our country has struggled with discrimination in many forms. And while it takes time, education and sacrifice to conquer injustices, those on the side of promoting tolerance and equality have always prevailed,” Ranker said. “I am proud to be on the right side of history. I am proud to strongly support marriage equality. Most of all, I am proud of my father.”
Few spoke with similar passion on the other side of the aisle.
“The GOP did not gum up the debate with monkey wrench amendments,” political reporter Josh Feit observed. “There were only 11 amendments, seven of which were friendly and adopted. And the four that were rejected—including one that called for a referendum—were dispensed without much heat.”
The Seattle reporter added, “A few minutes before a supposedly contentious and historic vote, both sides of the chambers were laughing together. And it wasn’t nervous chortling to relieve a tense situation. It was a hearty outburst in what seemed like everyday business on the floor. That would not have been possible during the gay civil rights bill debate in 2006, nor during the original domestic partnership debate in 2007, which went for hours as opposed to Tuesday’s brief proceedings, which didn’t even go 90 minutes.
“The vote itself seemed more like mom and dad’s decision to wait until you’re 12 to tell you Santa Claus doesn’t exist,” he reported. “This was overdue. And everyone, even the Republicans with their pro-forma handful of amendments, seemed as if they were simply role playing, going through the motions, almost blasé about the fact that the bill would pass.”
The Bellingham Unitarian Fellowship (BUF) and Mt. Baker Planned Parenthood will co-host a panel discussion on the status of lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and queer rights with regard to marriage-equality legislation in Washington State. The panel will also focus on anticipated challenges to its passage.
The forum features a brief look at the history of LGBTQ rights nationwide and in Washington State. Discussions will highlight progress of the current legislation and the personal, economic and legal implications of this bill’s passage.
The panel includes Kate Miller, who has been with her partner 26 years and was married in Portland until court ruling annulled it; Stephanie Kountouros, Public Policy Coordinator at Planned Parenthood; Erika Shepard, Transgender activist and LGBTQ spokesperson for BUF.
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