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Written by Lisa Neff, staff writer
Feb 25, 2012
“This is your time,” Washington Gov. Chris Gregoire said to those “who have been fighting for this day for years.”
Then, with an expression of pride, she announced, “And now I’ll sign the bill.”
On Feb. 13, Gregoire signed Washington State’s marriage equality legislation. Six other states – Iowa, Connecticut, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, New York and Vermont, – and the District of Columbia have marriage equality laws.
Maryland may become the eighth as early as this month.
But in New Jersey, where a bill passed in the senate on Feb. 13 and in the assembly on Feb. 16, Republican Gov. Chris Christie wielded his veto power. He did not accept an offer of counsel from Gregoire, who described the bill-signing in Olympia, Wash., as a proud moment for the state and in her life.
“It is a day historians will mark as a milestone for equal rights,” Gregoire, a Democrat, said. “A day when we did what was right, we did what was just, and we did what was fair. We stood up for equality and we did it together – Republicans and Democrats, gay and straight, young and old, and a variety of religious faiths. I’m proud of who and what we are in this state.”
She signed the bill surrounded by same-sex couples, including state Sen. Ed Murray and partner Michael Shiosaki.
“I’m proud that our same-sex couples will no longer be treated as separate but equal,” the governor said. “They will be equal.”
Celebrations took place throughout the day, including a reception at the Capitol, a party and a concert.
A cheery announcement from Equal Rights Washington noted that a lobby day scheduled for Feb. 16 was canceled due to “our success in securing marriage equality.”
But the morning after the signing, on Valentine’s Day, it was back to work for activists because Preserve Marriage Washington filed papers for a November referendum to repeal the law.
The coalition includes the National Organization for Marriage, Stand for Marriage Washington and the Family Policy Institute of Washington.
“Preserving marriage as the union of one man and one woman is worth fighting for,” said Brian Brown of NOM in a statement. “Marriage is a cornerstone of society that not only unites a couple to each other, but ensures that any children born of their union will have the best opportunity to be raised by their own mother and father. We’re committed to giving Washington voters the right to decide the definition of marriage in their state, just as voters in 31 other states have been able to do.”
The coalition must collect 120,577 signatures by June 6 to place the issue on the November ballot. If the ballot question is certified, then same-sex marriages, set to begin on June 7, would be blocked until after the election.
While PMW collects signatures and raises money for a repeal effort, Washington United for Marriage is organizing a campaign to protect the law.
The same day Gregoire signed Washington’s bill, the New Jersey Senate passed the Marriage Equality and Religious Exemption Act 24 to 16. A vote on a similar bill in 2010 failed 14 to 20.
“When an issue sees a 70-percent increase in support in just two years, that proves the world isn’t changing – it proves the world has changed,” said Steven Goldstein of Garden State Equality.
On Feb. 16, the New Jersey General Assembly voted 42 to 33 for the bill.
“Today’s milestone came in the face of some of the toughest obstacles in the history of the marriage equality movement,” Goldstein said. “Instead of a governor twisting arms on our behalf, we have a governor who twisted arms against us right up until the final votes in each chamber. … But we had the people and the passion.”
Trying to placate many, Christie, considered a possible vice presidential candidate, has called for a referendum on marriage in November but emphasized that polls show gay marriage will win at the ballot box.
Critics, however, say minority rights should not be decided by majority vote and Garden State Equality is organizing to override the veto with a two-thirds majority vote in both the assembly and the senate.
“To win an override, we will take the time we need, assisted by a changing world,” Goldstein said. “We have until the end of the legislative session, January 2014. The key is winning.”
Meanwhile, in Maryland, house delegates twice delayed a vote on Gov. Martin O’Malley’s Civil Marriage Protection Act and then took up full debate on Feb. 17. The delegates voted 72-67 to pass the bill.
The Senate, which passed a similar bill last year, was expected to vote this week.
If the measure becomes law, same-sex couples would begin marrying in Maryland in January 2013.
“We took a giant step toward marriage equality becoming law – and we are in this position due to the unwavering leadership and resolve of Gov. O'Malley, Speaker (Michael) Busch and our legislative allies,” Joe Solmonese, president of the Human Rights Campaign, said in a statement.
Find news updates at www.wisconsingazette.com.
