Today at 11:30 a.m. PST, Gov. Christine Gregoire will sign into law a bill that legalizes marriage for same sex couples in Washington state. The legislation passed the state's House of Representatives last Wednesday. The law will take effect on June 7.
In a statement released after the bill passed the House, James Esseks, director of the ACLU Lesbian Gay Bisexual and Transgender Project, said:
"Washingtonians should be proud of their legislature and their governor for standing on the right side of history by securing fairness and dignity for all families. When loving couples make the kind of commitment that is at the heart of marriage, it's not fair to exclude them from the protections that only marriage can provide."
The ACLU is working with other organizations to secure the freedom to marry across the country, including passing a marriage bill in Maryland, passing a voter initiative in Maine that would allow same-sex couples to marry and defeating proposed anti-marriage amendments in Minnesota and North Carolina. The ACLU is also seeking domestic partnership protections in Montana, Missouri and Alaska.
In the News:
- Seattle Post-Intelligencer: Gay Marriage in Washington State
- Reuters: Washington governor to sign law allowing gay marriage
- Seattle Times: Gov. Gregoire to Sign Gay Marriage Bill Monday
Learn more about LGBT rights: Sign up for breaking news alerts, follow us on Twitter, and like us on Facebook.
Learn More About the Issues on This Page
-
ACLU Condemns House Measure Against Department of Education Title IX Rule
-
ACLU Applauds Legislation Creating Oversight and Accountability in Federal Prisons
-
Senate Armed Services Committee Advances Restrictions on Medical Care for Transgender Servicemembers
-
Federal Court Rules Idaho Officials Will Not Enforce Abortion Censorship Law Against Public University Professors