Ban On Gay Marriages Passed, Sent To Governor House Vote Lopsided, But Not Veto Proof
Washington lawmakers, discussing same-sex love and marriage on Valentine’s Day, sent Gov. Gary Locke legislation to make Washington the 18th state to ban gay marriages.
It was a lopsided 63-35 vote in the Republican-controlled state House on a measure approved by the Senate earlier in the week. But the count was three votes shy of the two-thirds needed to override the expected veto next week by the Democratic governor.
Backers of the ban said they plan to place it on the November statewide ballot and expect voters will approve it.
All but one Republican, Don Carlson of Vancouver, voted for the ban. The majority Republicans were joined by eight Democrats.
In the GOP-controlled Senate on Wednesday, no Republicans opposed the ban, SB5398, and eight Democrats crossed the aisle to vote for it.
Republican House sponsor Bill Thompson, Everett, was somewhat apologetic for even bringing up the issue, saying House Speaker Clyde Ballard, R-East Wenatchee, was unhappy with bringing up a touchy social issue. But he said the potential of Hawaii legalizing same-sex marriage has forced the matter, since the U.S. Constitution’s “full faith and credit” clause makes marriages performed in one state legal in another.
Congress and President Clinton last fall approved a federal Defense of Marriage Act that defines marriage as the union between a man and woman, and authorizes states to ban same-gender unions.
Mississippi on Wednesday became the 17th state to specifically prohibit gay marriages. No state, including Washington, permits it, but a pending Hawaii court case has some states rushing to expressly outlaw it.
“This has been forced upon us by what is happening in Hawaii,” Thompson said in floor debate that was dominated by the opponents. “We did not want to do this. … It is not our intention to go out and look for a fight. It is a case of trying to do our best to protect the institution of marriage as we see it.
“This is not a fun situation.”
The chairman of the committee that handled the bill, Rep. Larry Sheahan, R-Rosalia, said marriage has been defined as a heterosexual institution for centuries.
“If we remain silent, we could be forced to change this fundamental institution,” he said. “What this bill guarantees is that any decision made about this institution will be made by the legislators and people of this state, not by a judge in Hawaii or some other state.”
Foes were sometimes close to tears as they pleaded with their colleagues for a change of heart. They invoked the Bible’s call for justice and love, the spirit of St. Valentine, and memories of the civil rights movement.
Rep. Dawn Mason, D-Seattle, an African-American, upbraided backers of the ban for their lack of emotion on the issue. She said it was painful to hear witnesses at recent hearings denounce gays and lesbians.
“How could you people sit and feel all stony,” she shouted. “Isn’t anybody feeling anything? … Do we always have to have a group to hate? Oppression is oppression.”
Rep. Debbie Regala, D-Tacoma, a caucasian married to an Asian man for almost 30 years, said it hasn’t been many years since interracial marriage was considered taboo.
The Legislature’s only self-identified gay, Rep. Ed Murray, D-Seattle, turned to the backers and said: “I’m not a threat to your marriage. My relationship strengthens our community.”
He said “stereotypes and slander” lead to hate crimes and suicide.
“Some day these laws will join the Jim Crow laws on the trash heap of history,” he said. After the vote, a number of his colleagues circled his desk to console him.
Rep. Suzette Cooke, a moderate Republican from Kent, was the only backer who said it was a hard decision. She said she needed “the wisdom of Solomon” to balance her desire to uphold traditional marriage while not making life more difficult for the young gay acquaintance who calls her “Mom.”
Earlier this week, Locke said he plans to veto the measure. He called the bill divisive and unnecessary.