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Washington - Washington
state may soon be the seventh state to legalize same-sex marriage,
joining New York, Connecticut, Iowa, Massachusetts, New Hampshire,
and Vermont in the move toward granting marriage equality across the
country.
In
the past Washington had two other laws, a domestic partnership one
passed in 2007, and another granting same-sex couples “everything
but marriage” in 2009. This however comes as a significant win for
movement motivated to giving gay couples the same rights as
heterosexual ones.
Governor Chris Gregoire in the past expressed her support for the law, which
was opposed by people like Ken Huterson, Antioch's Bible Church
pastor.
"You
are saying as a committee and a Legislature that you know better than
God," he said. Opponents' only argument against it seems to be
that it “goes against traditional marriage and the Bible,” the
standard argument.
Four
Republicans, two in the House and two in the Senate, are likely to
face the wrath of their more religious conservative base. The
National Organization for Marriage stated they will spend
approximately 250-thousand dollars against each Republican who dares
to vote in favor of the new law. However, it seems that may not
matter for much longer.
A University of Washington poll, conducted in October of last year,
shows a five-year jump in support for gay marriage from 30 percent to
43 percent. Twenty-two percent say they are in favor of giving the
same rights to same-sex couples but not calling it marriage.
When
asked about the possibility of voting for a referendum which would
repeal the new law, 55 percent said they wouldn't vote for it (47
percent of them saying they are strongly in support of it) while 38
percent said they'd vote for the referendum.
If
the bill is passed it would go into effect starting in June.
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