Marriage Equality Bill Introduced into Washington State Senate with 2 Republicans Sponsoring

Republican Steve Litzow, a family man; not afraid of Equality for all Americans

Today, the Washington state senate filed a bill that would make the State seventh in the union to legalize marriage equality.  If the bill passes the Senate and is signed into law, anti-LGBT groups are likely to try and overturn it at the November ballot.

The senate bill which is supported by Gov. Christine Gregoire has 23 sponsors including two Republican Senators, Steve Litzow and Cheryl Pflug.

“SOMETIMES it takes just one individual to stand on principle and let others follow,”  noted the Seattle Times as it reported the decision of Litzow, the first Republican Senator to make the decision.

Sen. Litzow’s website has posted the following comment, perhaps serving to show other Republicans that supporting equality is really not that difficult to do; the undramatic tone is indicative of changing attitudes; that Americans are turning to favor equality and that it is indeed the right thing to do:-

Last week I voiced my support for a bill that would make gay marriage legal in Washington, which you can read about in this Seattle Times editorial.

For years I have been a supporter of equal rights for gay and lesbian couples and have welcomed the overwhelming support from everyone who has contacted my office throughout the last week.

Washington United for Marriage, a broad statewide coalition of organizations, congregations, unions and business associations that will work to obtain civil marriage for lesbian and gay couples in Washington State in 2012, today applauded the introduction of SB 6239, “an act relating to providing equal protection for all families in Washington by creating equality in civil marriage and changing the domestic partnership laws, while protecting religious freedom. The bill needs 25 votes in the senate for passage and was introduced with 23 sponsors.”

An October poll found that 55 percent of the state’s independent and moderate voters support marriage equality.

The proposed legislation would not force religious organizations to marry or recognize same-sex unions.