Senate Push On Same-Sex Vote Begins

Thu., March 20, 1997

David Ammons Associated Press

If the state Senate goes along - and that’s a big if - Washington voters will get the final say on whether to ban same-sex marriages. Gov. Gary Locke and other critics said Wednesday they fear the measure will touch off violence against gays and lesbians.

Both backers and foes of the proposed ban were counting votes in the Senate on Wednesday, but neither side was predicting victory. About six pivotal votes, mostly moderate Republicans, were being courted.

After debate that stretched into the early hours Wednesday, the House narrowly voted to place the measure on the primary ballot in September. The vote was 50-48, the bare minimum needed for passage.

Last month, the Democratic governor vetoed a similar bill that had cleared both houses, calling it discriminatory, divisive and unnecessary. A referendum, however, bypasses his desk.

The two top Republican leaders, House Speaker Clyde Ballard of East Wenatchee, and Senate Majority Leader Dan McDonald of Bellevue, said they’ll push hard for the 25 votes necessary to put the measure, HB1130, onto the ballot.

Conversely, the governor and Rep. Ed Murray, D-Seattle, the only openly gay legislator, said they will try their best to defeat the bill in the Senate.

Locke, Murray and other critics said Wednesday they fear the referendum campaign could lead to gay-bashing and violence.

“I very much fear violence and a mean-spirited campaign if this were to be on the ballot,” the governor told his weekly news conference.

Even the legislative debates have had a “very, very divisive” tone, Locke said.

“Gay marriages are already illegal in this state, and I don’t see any need to have this legislation,” particularly given the potential for violence, he said.

Sen. Pam Roach, R-Auburn, scoffed at the concern by critics.

“This bill is not going to cause violence,” she said in an interview. “This is simply to define marriage as a union between a man and a woman, a very positive statement. The status quo. A position adopted by 18 other states already. I don’t see a problem.”

The House sponsor, Bill Thompson, R-Everett, said he doesn’t concede that violence will occur. But he said he knows others are concerned, and put a clause in the bill calling for swift punishment of any hate crimes generated by a campaign.

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