Governor Christine Gregoire signed the Washington State Marriage Equality bill into law early this afternoon. Same sex couples in Washington State can now legally be wed…once the law takes effect on June 7, 2012. But, marriage equality opponents have vowed to fight back by submitting a ballot measure to overturn the new law. They have until June 6 to submit the 120,000 signatures required to place the measure on the November ballot. In addition, an anti-equality initiative has also been filed in Olympia…that measure needs over 240,000 signatures by July 6 to be considered.
Recent polling has indicated that Washington state residents tend to favor marriage equality and both measures seem likely to fail at the ballot box, but it’s likely local and national anti-equality groups will spend millions on their campaigns.
Meanwhile, happy LGBTQ Washingtonians and their allies will be celebrating today’s victory as the state joins Massachusetts, Connecticut, Iowa, New Hampshire, New York, and Vermont, plus Washington, D.C. and Oregon’s Coquille and Washington State’s Suquamish Indian tribes in legalizing same sex marriage. A community rally is scheduled for 7:30pm Monday, February 13 at Plymouth Congregational Church, 1217 6th Ave (6th & University) in downtown Seattle. Members of the Seattle Men’s and Women’s Choruses will perform with various speakers on hand to celebrate the day. Here’s the skinny on the event:
Expected guests include: Seattle City Council Member Sally Clark;Plymouth Congregational Church Pastor, Brigitta Remole;Executive Director of Washington United for Marriage, Zach Silk;State Representatives Jamie Pedersen and Ed Murray join in from OlympiaEntertainment provided by the Choruses who will perform music from their upcoming concerts including songs by k.d. Lang and The Beatles.
AND, several bars and venues on the Hill are offering Victory Toast celebrations this evening as well…we’re guessing there will be some celebrating and community gathering all over the hill this evening.
