With the stroke of a pen, Washington Governor Christine Gregoire made her state the first in the Pacific Northwest to provide full marriage equality for gay and lesbian couples. Gregoire announced this measure as a legislative priority just over a month ago. With a bit of lobbying, she obtained the support needed in both houses of the Washington Legislature, which passed the bill easily over the past two weeks.
Gov. Gregoire signed the bill in a ceremony late this morning. Dozens of jubilant couples attended the signing, eagerly awaiting their chance to obtain equal rights. As with most legislation, there is a brief waiting period before the law goes into effect. Same-sex couples can begin marrying on June 7, 2012. Opponents of the bill have declared their intent to file a petition to repeal it. Their ability to garner the required 120,577 valid signatures for the referendum remains unclear.
Washington is the seventh state (plus the District of Columbia) to obtain marriage equality (not including Maine and California, where efforts were overturned). Similar Legislative efforts are moving forward in Maine, Maryland, and New Jersey. In neighboring Oregon, efforts are underway to overturn a Constitutional amendment restricting marriage to heterosexuals. Basic Rights Oregon, the advocacy group spearheading the project, is focusing on a ballot measure rather than pursuing the legislative option. Based on polls, they opted not to act in 2012. The final fate of the Washington equality law will inform further efforts.
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