A look at the Official Records most days shows some same-sex couples from other states come to Spokane to get married, and some gay rights advocates have suggested there’s a chance to capitalize on Washington’s status as one of a handful of states that allow such unions.

A recent item in the Chicago Tribune, however, suggests what could be a particularly good tact for promotion, Chicago Alderman James Cappleman told a reporter that he and his longtime partner had a civil union, but the U.S. Supreme Court’s ruling on the Defense of Marriage Act convinced them it was time to get married. They wanted to get married in Illinois, but were travelling to Washington next month because the same-sex marriage bill had stalled in the Illinois Legislature.

So here’s the strategy: Watch for states where same-sex marriage legislation gets introduced and gets some peoples’ hopes up, then fails and dashes them. Then run a campaign based on “Tired of waiting? Come to Washington!”

---

---