Washington Is Moving Quickly

You gotta hand it to 'em, the Washington state legislature is moving quickly toward having enough support to make it the seventh state to approve marriage equality.
That same-sex marriage bill that Governor Chris Gregoire wanted to see is expected to be introduced in the state house by week's end. And, out of the 49 state senators, more are firmly supporting marriage equality, by a margin of 22-18--it needs just 25 votes to pass the Senate. The House is widely expected to have enough support.
Still, there are four Democrats who say they are considering whether to support it, including one who is leaning in favor, while a pair of Republicans--Steve Litzow and Cheryl Pflug--have already come out in support. Add to that two first-term Republican senators--Joe Fain and Andy Hill--who say they are open the possibility of supporting the bill, after discussing it with constituents.
Openly gay Democratic Senator Ed Murray, who has been leading the push for LGBT equality for years, says he's "50 percent optimistic" it will pass.  "I can't declare victory," he said. "I don't think we'll know we have the votes until we actually vote."
Of the undecided Democrats, Senator Rosemary McAuliffe says she was likely to support the measure but not yet willing to commit, and the three Democratic senators who previously cast votes against expanding options for gay couples--Brian Hatfield, Jim Kastama and Paul Shin--said they are considering support.
What's up with that fellas? What's to consider? Equality? non-equality? Equality? Non-equality?
Hatfield is grappling with the issue because he understands the opinions on both sides. He has become a devoted Christian in recent years, and said he is "torn" by the debate. "The supporters of the bill determine you're a 'hateful bigot' if you vote no, while the opponents question your faith and say you're 'turning your back on God' if you vote yes."
Let me make this queer for you Hatfield. You are a bigot if you're against it. This is not a religious issue, this is a legal issue of equality guaranteed to all citizens. Not one single gay person I know has ever said that people of faith need to accept marriage equality, all we ask is that you keep religion out of the law.
Queer enough?
Then we have Democratic Senator Mary Margaret who isn't willing to support anything that didn't allow a vote of the people.  Um, Mary Margaret, since when do we allow people to vote on equality, honey? I mean, picture the struggle women faced when demanding the right to vote. Had we allowed that to go to a popular vote, by men, you might not even have that right. Had we allowed the rights of Black people to be treated equally in this country to be put up to a vote, goddess knows where we'd be today.
You cannot let the majority legislate the rights of a minority. Again, queer enough?
Ed Murray said each of the "undecided" lawmaker "has a very difficult personal struggle" and that this "isn't a policy debate, or something you can trade a vote for. It's such a personal decision."
I disagree Ed. It is a policy debate, and ones personal choices and beliefs need to be set aside and the decision must be based on the law. The only people affected personally by this issue are gay people who want to get married in Washington. Everyone else is superfluous; we're the only ones affected.
And it needs to be done now. Washington has had a long struggle with equality, going back to fifteen years ago when lawmakers overrode a governor's veto to pass a law defining marriage as between one man and one woman. But since then, lawmakers have expanded LGBT rights, including, in 2007, Washington's domestic partnership, which was expanded into the "Everything But Marriage" law in 2009.
Supporters of marriage equality feel a sense of urgency to get the bill through the Legislature this year, in case Republican gubernatorial candidate Rob McKenna wins in November. 
McKenna opposes same-sex marriage.
The time is now, Washington.


source