The LGBT community celebrates another win amid the state of Washington approving a same-sex marriage bill that passed Wednesday. The Senate approved the measure Feb. 1, and the bill later headed to the House where it passed with a 55-43 vote Wednesday.
Same-sex marriage in Washington is expected to become the law after Gov. Chris Gregoire signs the bill next week. Gregoire has openly supported the measure and she is expected to sign the bill, thereby allowing gays and lesbians to legally marry in the state 90 days thereafter.
Despite the initial victory, opponents of the bill have promised to fight the measure with an initiative that would overturn the pending legislation. If the opposing action gathers enough signatures to overturn the measure on the state’s ballot box in November, the law would be put on hold pending its outcome.
Washington has allowed same-sex couples to file for domestic partnerships since 2007.
If gay marriage is legalized, Washington will join New York, Massachusetts, Connecticut, Iowa, New Hampshire, Vermont, and Washington D.C. in states where same-sex marriage is legal.
