Olympia, Washington – Governor Chris
Gregoire let her support for gay marriage be known today and
hopefully will put the state on the path to becoming the seventh
state in the country to grant full same-sex rights.
In a press
conference she held Wednesday afternoon, she said "It is time in
Washington state for marriage equality. It is time, it's the right
thing to do."
Although the state's Democrats hold
most of the power in both of the state's chambers, the certainty of
it passing is still shaky, as several on the more conservative side
if the party are on the Republicans' side.
Not always a supporter for gay
marriage, Gregoire brought the issue to the forefront when she signed
a bill that grants domestic partnership equaling marriage as long as
it didn't violate federal law. The bill passed, but narrowly.
"Our
gay and lesbian families face the same hurdles as heterosexual
families-making ends meet, choosing what school to send their kids
to, finding someone to grow old with, standing in front of friends
and family and making a lifetime commitment. For all couples, a
state marriage license is very important. It gives them the right to
enter into a marriage contract in which their legal interests, and
those of their children if any, are protected by well-established
civil law," she said. Gay marriage supporters, of course,
applauded her move.
Zach Silk, campaign manager for
Washington United for Marriage – a group with gay rights, civil
liberties, labor activists, and religious leaders amongst their
members – said the group is supporting the effort.
Just a month previous Gregoire joined
with Rhode Island's governor Lincoln Chafee, an Independent, in
asking the Drug Enforcement Administration to permit doctors to
prescribe medical marijuana.
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