Gay-Rights Rally Opposes Bills To Ban Same-Sex Marriages Spokane Area Legislators Are Co-Sponsors Of Bills Due Hearings Before Committees

Gay rights activists rallied at the Capitol on Monday, a day before lawmakers take up the controversial same-sex marriage debate.

Three bills will be heard in committees today that would prohibit the state from recognizing same-sex marriages, even if they are performed in another state.

A judge in Hawaii ruled last year that same-sex marriage is legal in that state, but the decision is being appealed.

At a Hands Off Washington rally Monday afternoon, Rep. Ed Murray, D-Seattle, said Gov. Gary Locke intends to veto the legislation should it pass the House and Senate.

The bills may pass because Republicans control both houses. Last year, a similar bill passed the GOP-controlled Hose but died in the Senate, which was controlled by Democrats.

Idaho already has banned same-sex marriage.

In the House, seven Spokane-area Republicans are supporting HB 1130, which will be heard today in the House Law and Justice Committee.

Reps. Duane Sommers, Cathy McMorris, Mark Sterk, Larry Crouse and Brad Benson are co-signers, as are Rosalia’s Larry Sheahan and Republic’s Bob Sump.

Spokane residents attending the gay rights rally, however, said those lawmakers don’t represent local values.

“The Spokane vote isn’t reflective of citizens in Spokane,” Mona Mendoza said. “I think there are people who are uncomfortable with same-gender marriages, but at the same time aren’t comfortable with putting discrimination into law.”

Two same-sex marriage bills will be heard in the Senate Law and Justice Committee today. One, SB 5400, contains a referendum clause that would require the issue to be put to voters.

Murray, who is homosexual, is confident the public would defeat the measure, but prefers to see the issue handled in Olympia.

In a recent poll of Washington voters, 56 percent said they oppose withholding legal status to same-sex marriages performed in other states.

Sheahan, who chairs the House Law and Justice Committee, questions the validity of the poll and believes the traditional definition of marriage should be preserved.

“The key thing to remember is we’re trying to codify what has been happening in the states,” Sheahan said. “The concern is that the closer we get to some kind of decision in Hawaii, the more important it is to get something on our books.”

Supporters of the legislation say homosexual couples shouldn’t get the same benefits, such as Medicare and Social Security, as heterosexual couples.

Benson said recognizing same-sex marriages could increase costs to taxpayers, as gay spouses qualify for benefits they don’t now receive.

But there wasn’t much agreement on the Capitol steps on Monday.

“Gender shouldn’t make any difference,” Spokane’s Marianne Hurmence said. “Homosexual couples should have the same rights heterosexual couples have.”

Rep. Jeff Gombosky, D-Spokane, questioned whether the issue should even be addressed in the Legislature.

“A lot of these things are wedge issues,” Gombosky said. “It’s disappointing we have to spend so much time on them.”

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