g********d 发帖数: 4174 | 1 Posted on Advocate.com January 09, 2012 09:20:00 AM ET
Republican Senator to Support Washington Gay Marriage Bill
By Julie Bolcer
Washington state senator Steve Litzow announced he would become the first
Republican in his chamber to support marriage equality, a move that could
provide a crucial boost for the legislation to be introduced as soon as this
week by Governor Christine Gregoire.
Litzow made his announcement to the Seattle Times editorial board, calling
himself a “traditional Republican.”
“When you think about gay marriage, it's the right thing to do and it's
very consistent with the tenets of being a Republican — such as individual
freedom and personal responsibility,” said the freshman senator.
Republican lawmakers in New York and Maryland have used similar language in
announcing their support for marriage equality legislation in the past year.
The New York bill passed in June with support from four Republican senators
. Washington would become the seventh state to legalize same-sex marriages
if the legislation passes.
The support from Litzow and decision to break from his conference could be a
“huge factor” in the outcome, the Times reports. State senator Ed Murray,
who is openly gay, has said that prospects for the bill appear unclear in
the senate, where Democrats hold a 27 to 22 majority but some conservative
Democrats joined Republicans in opposing the domestic partnership law.
Litzow, a married businessman from Mercer Island, has supported equality
legislation in the past, according to Pam’s House Blend. He voted for a
safe schools bill, a measure to expand parental rights for same-sex domestic
partners, and a bill to give automatic recognition to married same-sex
couples from out of state as domestic partners when they enter Washington. | D**S 发帖数: 24887 | |
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