Washington gay marriage
Marriage Equality and Same-sex attracted Rights in Washington
Washington became one of the first three states, along with Maine and Maryland, to enact same-sex marriage at the ballot box when voters approved Referendum 74 on November 6, 2012. (Other states had legalized homosexual marriage earlier, but those decisions were made by courts or legislators rather than by widespread vote.) This essay follows the route to marriage equality in Washington, start in 1971 when two men applied for a King County marriage license and launched the first gay marriage lawsuit when they were refused. It examines some of the civil rights achieved by gays and lesbians along the way.
Request Denied
On September 20, 1971, John Singer (later Faygele benMiriam, 1944-2000) and Paul Barwick (b. 1947), both ex-servicemen, walked into the King County auditor's office and demanded a marriage license. The county had never before received a marriage license request from a same-sex couple, and auditor Lloyd Hara (b. 1939) contacted the county prosecutor's office searching advice. Norm Maleng (1938-2007), then leader civil deputy prosecutor, told the auditor to deny the application.
Years later, Hara
Domestic Partnerships and Marriage Equality in Seattle
Over the course of four decades, the Seattle Town Council took incremental steps to expand the coverage and definition of human rights. Marital status and sexual orientation were included in anti-discrimination laws, and families were defined more broadly so that domestic partners of employees could receive benefits. This led to the city's domestic partnership registration program and eventually to its support of statewide marriage equality legislation.
Expanding anti-discrimination laws
With encourage from Councilmember Jeanette Williams, the Seattle Women's Commission began to provide advice to the Mayor, City Council, and other departments regarding women's issues in 1971. Part of the Commission's mission was to establish goals, priorities, and immediate action objectives in alleviating discrimination against women.
Legislation mandating fair employment practices was first passed by City Council in 1972 (Ordinance 100642); it prohibited employment discrimination due to race, age, sex, color, creed or national origin. Amendments in 1973 (Ordinance 102562) widened the prohibition to include marital status, sexual orienta
Washington State Makes History with Marriage Equality Law
WASHINGTON – Today the Human Rights Campaign – the nation’s largest dyke, gay, bisexual, and transgender civil rights organization – celebrated Washington state Gov. Christine Gregoire for her signature of the historic bill extending marriage to gay and queer woman couples. HRC is proud to possess been a founding member of the campaign to go by the marriage bill and to include worked on the ground with articulate partners.
“Today’s signature of the marriage equality law puts Washington on the route to fairness for all families,” said HRC President Joe Solmonese. “While those opposed to marriage for gay and lesbian couples will no doubt strive to undo this progress, I am confident that equality will prevail in Washington.”
The Human Rights Campaign made a significant vow of resources to the successful actions to achieve marriage equality in Washington in 2012. From the founding of the Washington Joined for Marriage coalition through the governor’s signing of the marriage bill, HRC provided substantial field expertise. Additionally, HRC he
Washington state passes same-sex marriage
SEATTLE -- The side opposed to same-sex marriage in Washington state has conceded that Referendum 74 will likely pass.
“While we are disappointed, we are not defeated,” said Joseph Backholm, chairman of Preserve Marriage Washington, in a statement. “We are fighting for a result in that is true, and beautiful, and right – the sacred institution of marriage. It’s a cause worth fighting for, and we will continue to inform citizens and policymakers on the timeless truth that real marriage is the union of one guy and one woman.”
NBC has also projected the measure will pass, marking a victory for advocates of gay marriage, who also saw successes in Maine, Maryland and Minnesota. The Senate also ushered in its first openly-gay senator, Tammy Baldwin of Wisconsin.
In Washington state, approving Referendum 74 changes the legal definition of marriage as a “civil contract between two persons." Previously, the rule stated that marriage was between “a male and a female.”
Related: 1 for 31 no more: Same-sex attracted rights movement ends dismal record
The referendum also specifies that religious institutions may not be sued for refusing to marry same-sex