House To Vote On Marriage Equality Act Wednesday
The Washington State House of Representatives are expected to debate and vote on the Marriage Equality Act, starting at 1 p.m. on Feb. 8, 2012. What are your feelings about same-sex marriage?
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One week after the Washington State Senate approved a bill, the Washington State House of Representatives are expected to debate and vote on the Marriage Equality Act (SB 6239) starting at 1 p.m. on Feb. 8.
If the bill is successful, Washington would become the seventh state to recognize same-sex marriages.
According to a statement from Washington United for Marriage only six states plus the District of Columbia recognize marriage for same-sex couples under state law, including Connecticut, Iowa, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, New York, and Vermont. Nine states — California, Delaware, Hawaii, Illinois, Nevada, New Jersey, Oregon, Rhode Island, and Washington — provide same-sex couples with access to the state level benefits and responsibilities of marriage, through either civil unions or domestic partnerships. Same-sex couples do not receive federal rights and benefits in any state.
“Today we take the next step towards making the promise of equality a reality in Washington State,” said Zach Silk, Campaign Manager for Washington United for Marriage. “The introduction of this bill not only recognizes the value that lesbian and gay families in Washington make to our united community, but also upholds the longstanding tradition of the separation of church and state in this country. Marriage is about dignity, commitment, love and respect — it is the ultimate expression of a pro-family society. The foundation of marriage helps us build stable families, and now is the time to recognize the importance of treating all families in Washington State equally.”
Shortly after the vote King County Executive Dow Constantine publicly praised the Washington State Senate’s vote to enact legislation establishing marriage equality in Washington state calling it an "historic vote for the Legislature and for the people of Washington state."
"More than a decade ago, I stood to fight against the so-called “Defense of Marriage Act.” Today the Senate has righted a wrong and has placed itself on the right side of history," he said. "I salute the many supporters of this legislation and the Senators who took a tough vote to do the right thing."
Earlier this year the Metropolitan King County Council pledged to support of same-sex marriage as part of its proposed 2012 legislative agenda, and adopted an amendment by Council on Jan. 9.
“Many have marched, fought and died for equality,” said King County Council Chair Larry Gossett. “Ensuring that equality is ‘sex neutral’ and that loving and committed adult couples are free to marry is something that I have always supported. This vote, affirming King County’s support for marriage equality, is simply the latest step in this fight.”
Alex Ohlsen
7:55 pm on Tuesday, February 7, 2012
Wait, did I miss something? How and when were gays and lesbians granted the title, “protected minority?”
I thought a people group had to have a tangible and scientifically verifiable condition to be legally protected – conditions that are readily seen in other protected minorities, like women, the disabled, and people of color.
For instance, women have always been equal to men. But it took Americans 150 years to acknowledge that by law. We now understand that their only differences are a double X chromosome (scientifically verifiable) and their anatomy (tangible). The same is true with people of color: their differences are visible and the causes of their beautiful skin tones are scientifically verifiable. The disabled also meet this criteria: their reduced mobility and/or mental acuity is tangible and the causes are scientifically verifiable.
So where are the visible and scientifically verifiable causes of homosexual behavior? They may indeed exist, but where’s the body of evidence? Where are the scientific journals? Or have we suddenly changed the criteria? Have we just relaxed the rules that qualify minorities as such because we’re afraid of holding gays and lesbians to the same standard? If so, why?
Gregg
10:42 am on Wednesday, February 8, 2012
"So where are the visible and scientifically verifiable causes of homosexual behavior?"
Well, for males, I believe the existence of an erection in the presence of certain other males can lead to advanced homosexual behavior. Sometimes these erections are visible to others. I can prove it if you really want to...