Same-sex marriage backers get majority in Washington state Legislature
Tuesday, January 24, 2012 at 09:11AM By msnbc.com staff and news services
A Washington state senator on Monday joined those lawmakers who support gay marriage, ensuring enough votes to pass a bill out of the state Senate.
"I have very strong Christian beliefs, and personally I have always said when I accepted the Lord, I became more tolerant of others," Democratic Sen. Margaret Haugen said in a statement posted on her website. "I stopped judging people and try to live by the Golden Rule. This is part of my decision. I do not believe it is my role to judge others, regardless of my personal beliefs."
The state House already has enough support, and Gov. Chris Gregoire has endorsed the planStill, it's expected that opponents of gay marriage will oppose the measure on a statewide ballot.
Haugen's announcement came moments before the state Legislature held its first public hearing on the issue.
If ultimately approved, Washington would join New York, Connecticut, Iowa, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Vermont and the District of Columbia in approving gay marriage.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
Reader Comments (2)
Finally!
I think it should be approved everywhere. People with non-traditional orientation are more or less accepted by the society, so why everything is still not that easy with the marriage, I wonder....
I have lots of friends gays and I really don't make any difference.
Washington, hurry up!
Totally agree with Jessica! I am straight but I wonder why such marriages are still forbidden in the majority of countries. Gay tolerance situation has dramatically changed in the last decades so it's high time to make the legal procedures easier. These people love each other and want to be to together. Let it be!
Keith, word search maker