Governor Gregoire says she’ll offer bill to legalize same-sex marriage in Washington.
Washington Governor Chris Gregoire completed the circle on her evolving advocacy for gay rights today as she announced she’ll introduce and support legislation to allow same-sex marriages in Washington.
Washington Governor Chris Gregoire
In a speech to which she invited a number of gay rights supporters, the Governor got right to the point:
“It is time, it is the right thing to do, and I will introduce a bill to do it.”
Among those in attendance was Spokane’s ret. Air Force Major Margaret Witt, whose landmark 2006 federal lawsuit was instrumental in the successful push to repeal the ban on gays in the military.
Today, Gregoire walked through the changes she’s supported since 2006 that have gradually increased legal protections for gays and lesbians, and outlawed discriminatory policies and practices. Yet, she pointed out, even Referendum 71–the 2009 voter-approved measure expanding domestic partnership rights for same-sex couples–still left those couples “with a different status.” She compared that status to “the discriminatory separate but equal” arrangement that the U.S. Supreme Court rejected in 1954 with its decision in Brown v. Board of Education.
“While I understand the experiences of racial minorities and lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender Americans are not identical,” Gregoire said, “laws that keep some Americans in a separate status are inherently unjust. It is now time for equality for our gay and lesbian citizens, and that means marriage.”
If Washington does pass the legislation Gregoire says she’ll shortly propose, the state will join Massachusetts, Connecticut, Iowa, New Hampshire, Vermont and New York in legalizing same-sex marriage.
The Governor acknowledged her decision will not make be well received by all.
“For many people,” she said, “I know this is a very sensitive issue. I understand that. To those who fear it, I ask them to consider the fact that Massachusetts has permitted same-sex marriage since 2004 without the doomsayers’ predictions.”
–Tim Connor
