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| Gov. Chris Gregoire is very happy |
The Washington state Senate, in an historic action, voted 28 to 21 on Wednesday night to legalize marriage between same-sex partners.I hope to have video of some of the testimonies. This is huge, folks!
"We ask for your support tonight because marriage is the way society says you are family," said state Sen. Ed Murray, D-Seattle, chief sponsor of the legislation and a gay man in a two-decade partnership.
Regardless of how his colleagues voted, Murray added, they will receive a wedding invite from him. A practicing Catholic, Murray has said he is pained that he will not be able to marry in his church.
The House of Representatives is expected to approve the legislation within a week. Gov. Chris Gregoire, who watched Wednesday night's debate, has become a passionate advocate of marriage equality at the end of what she described as a "personal journey."
Same-sex couples in Maryland would have the same full marriage rights as heterosexuals under a bill that cleared the Senate Thursday. If the House of Delegates approves it and the governor signs it, Maryland would be the sixth U.S. state to approve gay marriage.The vote was 25-21
Opponents, including Senate President Thomas V. Mike Miller, D-Calvert, promised that if it does become law that a referendum question would be on the 2012 ballot so voters have the final decision.
Before it passed, senators amended the bill to include protections for religious groups and institutions to keep them from being forced to participate in gay weddings. The bill would grant the same title and rights to same-sex couples as married straight couples.
If the measure passes the House, Democratic Gov. Martin O'Malley has said he would sign it into law.
