Marriage Equality On The Move In Washington

Since it's Monday, and I kinda wanted to end the Blog Day on an upbeat note, so here's this lovely story from Froggy's neck of the woods, Washington state.

Democratic state Representative Jim Moeller announced last week that he will join dozens of other legislators in introducing a bill to legalize same-sex marriage in the 2012 Legislature.

“Let’s trust adults to make the call — not any state office, agency, or bureaucracy — when it comes to adult decisions such as marital vows.”

Washington already has one of the most sweeping domestic partnership laws in the nation, and, though marriage equality has failed to pass after repeated attempts--most recently in the 2011 session--Moeller said he’s optimistic that the 2012 bill will make it into law.

“Our objective is to strengthen the social and legal protections for average, mainstream Washington families — the men, women and their children who make their homes in our communities and neighborhoods.”

Moeller did emphasize that the marriage equality legislation he proposes will protect the rights of clergy and religious institutions to determine for whom to perform marriage ceremonies and which marriages to recognize. You know, separation of church and state, as it should be.

And Moeller does seem to be on track with his proposed legislation. In a series of Washington state polls, 43% of those polled agreed with the statement: “Gay and lesbian couples should have the same legal right to marry as straight couples.” 

Jim Moeller

Moeller said the right to marry is not only deeply personal but also important to the larger society:

“Strong, healthy families promote social stability and prosperous economic growth. Couples who have obtained civil-marriage licenses have committed themselves to one another in heart and mind. The state, then, has a responsibility to establish the legal, ethical and common-sense protections that are realized through a bona fide marriage contract.”

Come on, Washington, you've just about made it to full equality for gay and lesbian couples. Now make that final step. 


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Out Froggy's Way, Washington Gives A Legislative Valentine To Gay And Lesbian Families

Lawmakers in Washington state chose this past Monday, Valentine's Day, as the day they would introduce legislation that would no longer restrict gays and lesbians from their right to marry.

That would make Valentine's Day a real holiday.


But it wasn't always so. Back in the Dark Ages, around 1998, on Valentine's Day, the state Legislature enshrined discrimination into law by overriding the veto of then-Governor Gary Locke to approve the so-called "Defense of Marriage Act."

Now, however, two Democrats, Jim Moeller and Ed Murray, want to change all that.

Jim Moeller: "Over the past several years, the Legislature and the public together have been steadily building a bridge to equality for gay and lesbian families," noting the passage of civil rights legislation in 2006 protecting gays and lesbians from discrimination in employment, housing, and financial transactions, and securing broader domestic partnership rights--including successfully fighting off the hostile Referendum 71 in 2009.

Ed Murray added: "We've made tremendous progress since 1998. Gay and lesbian families in Washington now enjoy the same state spousal rights that their married straight friends enjoy--except for the name ‘marriage’. The recognition that their loving, lifelong commitment is no different from the loving, lifelong commitment of straight couples is the final step to achieving full equality. I believe the Legislature and the public are both ready to take that final step."

And to appease those who base their hatred and bigotry on the Scriptures, Moeller and Murray's legislation protects religious freedom and the rights of clergy and religious institutions to determine for whom to perform marriage ceremonies and which marriages to recognize for their religious purposes.

And, gays and lesbians, and their heterosexual counterparts, would still have the rights to choose domestic partnership over marriage.

Sounds simple, and fair, right? Perhaps someone from Washington state should talk to Indiana--see post below--about fairness, and marriage, and equality.

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