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January 23, 2012 in Region
WA committees to hold gay marriage hearings
A supporter of gay marriage hands out stickers outside an overflow room for a Senate committee hearing on proposed legislation that would legalize same-sex marriage, Monday, Jan. 23, 2012, at the Capitol in Olympia, Wash.
(Full-size photo)
OLYMPIA — Senate and House committees are set to hear testimony on whether Washington state should legalize same-sex marriage.
Bills have been introduced in the House and Senate and both have public hearings on Monday. They are sponsored by two gay lawmakers who have pushed for gay rights measures in past years.
While gay marriage bills have been introduced in Washington state before, this is the first time the issue will receive a public hearing.
Washington state has had a domestic partnership law since 2007, and a so-called “everything but marriage” law since 2009.
Same-sex marriage is legal in New York, Connecticut, Iowa, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Vermont and the District of Columbia. Lawmakers in New Jersey and Maryland are expected to debate gay marriage this year as well.
© Copyright 2012 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
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berrybestfarm on January 23 at 12:41 p.m.
The current Domestic Partnership law is unconstitutional…stay with me…as written. It creates seperate, unequal classes of citizens. Opposite sex couples younger than 64 are discriminated against. The obvious and simple solution is marriage equality for all consenting adults.
Dennis Patterson—Deer Park
greenlibertarian on January 23 at 12:59 p.m.
Dennis is right.
An online handle of 1111 is queer.
misjustice on January 23 at 1:08 p.m.
1111 = flag as inappropriate.
It is past time for our great state to address in the inequality of the current law which denies some of its citizens the ability to enter a marriage contract. Consenting adults should be able to enter into a contract and should enjoy all benefits afforded by said contract. Period.
liberal_in_right_wing_land on January 23 at 1:21 p.m.
Sorry bigots, looks like this will soon become law. If you hate that our state believes in equal rights for everyone, then I hear Texas and Mississippi and Alabama will welcome you with open arms, they hate just about everyone.
WHS on January 23 at 1:51 p.m.
My favorite one-liner about this issue…
“if you don’t like Gay marriage, then don’t have one”
Or my second,
“So, just exactly when did you choose heterosexuality?”
Personally I must have missed that day in school… Because I don’t ever remember making that choice. I like girls, always have… But a good male friend of mine always liked boys… And he doesn’t remember “choice day” either. Heck, I even have one of the calendars that list’s all the “special” days and I can’t seem to find choice day on there either. Hmm, perhaps it’s one of those religious holidays I am not aware of…So, maybe one of the righteous can enlighten me, because I can’t seem to find when that day is…
WHS
nslopeofw on January 23 at 2:18 p.m.
Let everyone be happy. Who cares if they like the same sex? I dont. I’m not sure what this gains gay folk other than the right to say they are married, but if they need the title
“married”, give it to them.
Big Q, is lib in rt wing land the bride or groom? LOL. Sorry lib, i had to say it. You know i love you!!;-)
WHS on January 23 at 2:24 p.m.
HOLY SAMOLIANS! nslope and I agree on something.
Maybe there is hope for you yet. :))
WHS
nslopeofw on January 23 at 2:42 p.m.
WHS-
I grew up in a small town (1500) in Alaska in the 60’s and 70’s, and know at least 3 gay kids. No one ever beat them up or harassed them. I’m still friends with two of the 3 today. One lives in Cali, the other NY. Love them both! One is a guy, the other is a girl. Mostly, we disagree politically, but we respect each others beliefs.
misjustice on January 23 at 3:25 p.m.
Someone asked what “gains gay folk” get other than saying they are married?
Here’s a quick link, the list of rights is too long to post here:
http://www.nolo.com/legal-encyclopedia/marriage-rights-benefits-30190.html
Additionally, the rights are many that are taken for granted by those which already had the “right” to marry.
liberal_in_right_wing_land on January 23 at 3:44 p.m.
nslopeofw, have some feelings for me you want to say? Or maybe just some gay tendencies you have been holding back your whole life? anyways, I don’t meet guys from the internet….call me old fashioned, but its trashy, sorry bud :-)
misjustice on January 23 at 3:58 p.m.
Say YES to marriage equality and NO to Rob McKenna, who is running for Gubnor. He is in opposition to marriage equality and will, no doubt, make it a cornerstone of his election campaign.
Here’s a link to a petition that will be sent to McKenna, for those interested in signing on:
http://robmckennaforgovernor.com/equality/
nslopeofw on January 23 at 3:59 p.m.
C’mon lib, you know you want a fiscal conservative to add to the ole belt notch. (I’m the boy, though)
misjustice on January 23 at 4:01 p.m.
So, he does have “feelings” for you LIRWL…run, LIRWL, run!
; )
nslopeofw on January 23 at 4:02 p.m.
Misjustice-
Yeah, i see now. Same stuff all other partners get. Its only right. Still dont really get why anyone cares, tho? Except the religious folk, who depending on what country you are living in might just kill you for being gay. They, i think, are the real problem.
Bruce (aka thatoneguy) on January 23 at 4:37 p.m.
“…Except the religious folk, who depending on what country you are living in might just kill you for being gay. They, i think, are the real problem.”
On the nose, nslope.
garyc on January 23 at 4:43 p.m.
Me, too.
Was anyone there? Was there an “All of the Above” option?
misjustice on January 23 at 4:54 p.m.
Yeah, nslope, I knew you’d agree once you saw all that marriage equality entails. And I agree with YOU, the folks against marriage equality are the problem; not those that want equality for all.
; )
Bruce (aka thatoneguy) on January 23 at 5:23 p.m.
I have memories going back to age 5 where I can look back on them and say “omg, I was gay even then.”
For example (I think this might have been even a little younger) I remember kissing my mom good night, but when I went to kiss my dad good night, he said something like “uh-uh, men don’t kiss each other.” And I remember thinking “awwww, how sad.”
greenlibertarian on January 23 at 6:01 p.m.
“Except the religious folk”
It’s not ALL religious folk.
Metropolitan Community Church has been marrying same-sex couples for decades.
My parish has several same-sex couples attending services, and directly involved with the celebration of Mass.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Metropolitan_Community_Church
Many (and growing numbers) other churches or their local congregations have “affirming and welcoming” policies for gay folk.
nslopeofw on January 23 at 7:01 p.m.
Green-
Not so much religious as in local groups, rather religious as in countries, histories, etc. Some people believe any change in their history/religion is bad. But, the rest of us know that without the change, we could not have grown as a nation. All one has to do is look at all the backwoods countries out there, and what they do to gays, non-married women who are not virgins, people who are different. Pretty much think its OK to kill them.
Its good to live in a state that is going to allow everyone the right to happiness, and everything that goes with marriage.
nw98632 on January 24 at 4:54 p.m.
Marriage is a right to every human being no matter who they are. The problem that people have with gay people is “their” problem. They need to get over it and move on. Gay people are human like everyone else. It doesn’t matter who opposes to it, everyone has that right! I’m gay and I don’t put anyone down for being heterosexual. It’s not my place to judge but God’s.