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发帖数: 4174 | 1 Posted on Advocate.com February 14, 2011
Wash. State Senate Introduces Marriage Bill
By Neal Broverman
Lawmakers in Olympia, Wash., introduced a marriage equality bill in the
state senate Monday — Valentine's Day — and a companion bill is set to be
introduced in the state house Tuesday.
Same-sex marriage has been banned in Washington since 1998, when the
legislature passed the state's Defense of Marriage Act. Washington's DOMA
doesn't prevent the legislature from reversing the ban on marriage equality,
and Democrats control both houses of the legislature as well as the
governor's mansion. Gov. Christine Gregoire signed an expanded domestic-
partnership bill into law in 2009 (which was almost repealed by voters in
November of that year), though it's not clear what her thoughts are on same-
sex marriage.
Monday's senate bill was introduced by gay state senator Ed Murray of
Seattle, reports the Victory Fund's Gay Politics blog.
"Gay and lesbian families in Washington now enjoy the same state spousal
rights that their married straight friends enjoy — except for the name ‘
marriage,'" Murray said in a release. "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." |
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