Amazing news to pass along today … just one day after the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals ruled that California’s Proposition 8 ban on same-sex marriage is unconstitutional, the Washington State House of Representatives voted yesterday to legalize same-sex marriage in the State of Washington. The Washington State Senate approved the bill last week and now that the entire WA State legislature has passed the bill, all that is required is the signature of Democratic governor Christine Gregoire for the bill to become law! Gregoire has promised that she will sign the bill into law next week, then Washington will be the 7th State in the United States of America to legalize same-sex marriage.

A bipartisan group of lawmakers in Washington State voted Wednesday in favor of a bill that would legalize same-sex marriage, putting Washington on the path toward becoming the seventh state in the nation to legalize marriage for gay and lesbian couples. “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, a Demorcrat who has vowed to sign it. “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.” The law will go into effect in June, when the legislative session ends, unless opponents 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. The Senate vote last week was 28-21 and included four Republicans. “Like thousands of other same-sex couples, my partner Eric and I are very grateful for these protections that the law now provide,” said state Rep. Jamie Pedersen, a Democrat, moments before the vote. “But domestic partnership is a pale and inadequate substitute for marriage” … But Thalia Zepatos, director of public engagement for Freedom to Marry, questioned the fairness of a vote. “Is it appropriate for all the voters to vote on the rights of a small minority group of people?” she asked. Advocates of same-sex marriage have followed several paths toward legality in Massachusetts, Vermont, New Hampshire, Connecticut, Iowa, New York and the District of Columbia. “In each state, the question of marriage has come up either through the courts, through the legislatures or directly at the ballot,” Zepatos said. “I think this demonstrates the growing support nationally amongst Republicans, Democrats and Independents who see that allowing committed and loving, same-sex couples to get married does not take anything away from the marriages of their friends, neighbors and family members.”

Woot!! Yes, today is another day of celebration for the advancement of equality in this country … and another day will come next week when Governor Gregoire signs the bill into law … but, as the article above makes clear, the fight is far from over. A plan is in the works in Washington to put the matter of same-sex marriage to public vote, which is exactly what happened here in California with the passage of Prop 8. As you may recall, California legalized same-sex marriage, then Prop 8 was approved by voters — stripping away that right in one fell swoop. Altho the court of appeals this week struck down Prop 8 as unconstitutional, the matter still isn’t resolved here in California yet. The same murky legal limbo could happen in Washington as well if the matter of same-sex marriage is put to a public vote in that state this coming November. Let’s not forget, the Maine legislature also legalized same-sex marriage back in 2009 but it was overturned when the matter was put to public vote. People, this is the United States of America … when did it become common practice to put the rights of our citizens to public vote? Ugh. But, again, let’s try and focus on the extremely positive news today that Washington is on the verge of becoming the 7th state in the US to legalize same-sex marriage … bringing our nation one step closer to true liberty and justice for all. Washington will soon join the States of Connecticut, Iowa, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Vermont, New York and the District of Columbia as places in the US where same-sex marriage is legal (and don’t forget that the State of Maryland now recognizes the legality of same-sex marriages that are legal in other states). The advancement of civil liberties is sometimes a slow-moving process … but we will get there some day … I know that we will get to the day when marriage equality is a right afforded to all US citizens.

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