Washington State Legislature Votes to Approve Same-Sex Marriage
Lawmakers in Washington State voted Wednesday in favor of a bill that would legalize same-sex marriage.
“With today’s vote, we tell the nation that Washington state will no longer deny our citizens the opportunity to marry the person they love,” said Gov. Chris Gregoire. “We tell every child of same-sex couples that their family is every bit as equal and important as all other families in our state. And we take a major step toward completing a long and important journey to end discrimination based on sexual orientation.”
Once signed by Gregoire, it would make Washington the seventh state to legalize marriage for gay and lesbian couples.
The law would go into effect in June, when the legislative session ends, unless opponents seek to halt its implementation by putting it on the November 2012 ballot.
The 55-43 vote in the House included two Republicans in support of the bill, said Thalia Cepatos, director of public engagement for Freedom to Marry. The Senate vote last week was 28-21 and included four Republicans.