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Success! Washington State Governor Endorses Gay Marriage

Posted by on Jan 5, 2012 in This Day In Gay | 5 comments

It's about time, Christine!

As many of you know, the hard-working boys here at Unicorn Booty currently call Seattle, Washington home. Our very own governor, Christine Gregoire, has recently proposed to legalize same sex marriage in the Evergreen State. It tickles us pink when celebrities support equal rights, so having politicians on our side is even more exciting!

The legislative sessions begin this week, following an announcement made by Gregoire on Wednesday. The Seattle Times has been following the development of the story.

“Today, I’m announcing my support for a law that gives same-sex couples in our state the right to receive a marriage license in Washington – the same right given our heterosexual couples,” Gregoire said before a crowd of gay marriage supporters at her office. “It is time, it is the right thing to do, and I will introduce the bill to make it happen.”

The governor spoke for 20 minutes, laying out what she sees as the moral and legal reasons for the move, as well as the evolution of her personal views over the years.

“I have been on my own journey. I will admit that. It has been a battle for me with my religion,” said Gregoire, who is Catholic. “I have always been uncomfortable with the position that I have taken publicly. And then I came to realize the religions can decide what they want to do, but it is not OK for the state to discriminate.”

Gregoire has supported giving gay and lesbian partners the same rights that married couples have today, but has never endorsed same-sex marriage publicly.

If all goes according to plan, Washington will be the seventh state to legalize same-sex marriage. Unfortunately, there are still local religious groups fighting against the legislation. The bill will allow the state to issue marriage licenses, giving individual churches the right to decide weather or not to perform same-sex ceremonies.

Would you still attend services at a church that refused to perform gay weddings, even if it was legal?

(via The Seattle Times)