Washington Governor Chris Gregoire announced her support for gay marriage legislation onWednesday, potentially putting thestate on track to become the nation’s seventh to fully recognize same-sex unions.
Gregoire, a Democrat in the final year of hersecond term, is backing legislation to be introduced before the Washington statelegislature, which reconvenes next week.
“It is time in Washington state for marriage equality,” Gregoire told a news conference in the state capital of Olympia. “It is time, it’s the right thing to do.”
Six U.S. states currently allow same-sex marriage: New York, Massachusetts, Connecticut, Vermont,New Hampshire and Iowa. Gay marriage is also legal in the District of Columbia.
Although Democrats hold majorities in bothof Washington state’s chambers, a bill is not certain to pass because some conservative Democrats have sidedwith Republicans on the issue.
Gregoire’s move comes a month after she joined forces withRhode Island’s governor to ask the U.S. Drug EnforcementAdministration to allow doctors to legally prescribe marijuana as a medical treatment.
The 64-year old governor, who has held the office since 2004, said in June she would decline to run for a third term in November elections.
Gregoire, a Catholic, has not always been a public supporter of gay marriage, but moved the issue to the fore in May 2009 when she signed a bill granting domestic partners the same rights as married couples as long as they did not conflict with federal law. Voters narrowly approved the measure in a referendum later in the year.
The issue is still divisive in Washington,which tends to be split between a liberal coast, including Seattle, and a more conservative inland.
Brian Brown, presidentof the 800,000-member, Washington,D.C.-based National Organization for Marriage, told Reuters his non-profit group would lobby against marriage equality in Washington state.
“The people of this country believe that marriage is a union of a man and a woman,”Brown said in a telephone interview. “I expect the legislature in Washington state will stand up for this commitment and voteto protect marriage.”
Gregoire’s announcement was welcomed by gay marriage supporters.
“We’re supporting thelegislative effort,” said Zach Silk, campaign manager in Seattle for the group Washington United forMarriage, which includes gay rights, civil liberties, labor andreligious leaders. “The governor is a long-time supporter of equality and fairness.”
kankar.peperonity.com
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