Gay Marriage in the Pacific Northwest? All Eyes on Washington State

In a spirited and impassioned speech, Gov. Chris Gregoire recently announced a 180-degree turnaround in her policy concerning same-sex marriage in Washington State. Previously, she supported only efforts to expand the state's current law on domestic partner rights for LGBT couples. The Jan. 4, 2012, press conference made national headlines because it was the first time the governor moved further on the issue from tweaking domestic partners to out-and-out marriage equality.

In fact, Gregoire apparently had a road to Damascus -- an apparently genuine conversion. She announced that she was going to introduce the bill in the next state legislative session herself. -- which so happened, just began this week in the capital of the Northwest state, Olympia.

"It's time, it's the right thing to do," Gregoire told a room crowded with reporters, LGBT advocates and same-sex marriage advocates, some of whom came from as far away as Spokane and Vancouver to witness the speech. "Some say domestic partnerships are the same as marriage," she said. "That's a version of the discriminatory separate but equal argument of the past.

"Our gay and lesbian families face the same hurdles as heterosexual families," she added. "Making ends meet, choosing what school to send their kids to, finding someone to grow old with, standing in front of friends and family and making a lifetime commitment. For all couples, a state marriage license is very important. It gives them the right to enter into a marriage contract in which their legal interests, and those of their children, if any, are protected by well-established civil law."

For many LGBT advocates in Washington State, the governor's endorsement of gay marriage is seen as a key piece in securing marriage equality in the Evergreen State in 2012.

Washington United for Marriage, the broad statewide coalition of organizations, congregations, unions and business associations working to obtain civil marriage for lesbian and gay couples in the state, applauded Gov. Gregoire for her landmark comments and endorsement of marriage equality.

"Governor Gregoire made crystal clear why marriage equality matters and why the legislature should pass it this year," said Zach Silk, campaign manager for Washington United for Marriage. "She has shown tremendous leadership on this issue which affects so many of our friends, family and neighbors.

"Thousands of families in Washington State will be impacted by the legislation," he added. "Currently, these couples may register for a domestic partnership which confers most of the rights and responsibilities of marriage, but does not recognize the love, commitment and devotion to family that marriage conveys."

Governor's Journey Reflects Society's

The verdict on Gregoire's speech was near unanimous: especially powerful because she was not only speaking an elected leader, but also as a mother, wife, and member of the Catholic faith. Her words were backed by what she called a journey in which she battled her own uncertainty on the issue. Gregoire says she was uncomfortable with the position she previously took, but that she "came to realize, the religions can decide what they want to do, but it's not OK for the state to discriminate."

Just as LGBT people have been asked to tell their story, gay marriage advocates have asked straight allies to do the same. Gregoire did just that, explaining that she had to work through her religious beliefs and listen to friends and family that had asked her to change her views.

"Governor Gregoire's personal journey parallels that of many people in Washington. The public has been moving toward greater acceptance of differences among individuals and recognizing there is not a good reason to treat people unequally under the law simply because of their sexual orientation," Jennifer Shaw, of the ACLU of Washington, told EDGE. "We applaud the Governor for her open-mindedness and willingness to change her opinion about who should have access to civil marriage."

A release from the Human Rights Campaign points up how Gregoire's evolving views on gay marriage reflect the larger society.

"From coast to coast, more and more Americans are coming to appreciate the values they share with committed gay and lesbian couples: the desire to love, honor and protect the person they love," said Joe Solmonese, president of the Human Rights Campaign, in referring both to Gregoire and New York State Gov. Andrew Cuomo. "By voicing their strong support for marriage equality, Governors Gregoire and Cuomo propel this issue forward. They confirm what most Americans already believe: committed gay and lesbian couples deserve the ability to marry and establish families protected by law."

Then There's the Catholic Church

New York State passed same-sex marriage legislation last year. On Jan. 4, Cuomo listed it as one of his top accomplishments for 2011 in his annual "State of the State" address. Cuomo said that prior to the passage of this legislation, gay and lesbian New Yorkers were treated as "second-class citizens by the government."

One of the biggest obstacles in New York was the power of the Roman Catholic Church, which has many adherents in the Empire State. The Church has been vocal and active in opposition to same-sex marriage across the country. But HRC's Somonese believes that the church hierarchy doesn't reflect the views of the faithful in the pews any longer.

"It's notable that both Governors are Catholics -- a group that supports legal recognition of Gay and Lesbian couples by wide margins," said Solmonese. "According to the Public Religion Research Institute, Catholics are more supportive of legal recognition of gay couples than members of any other Christian tradition. On the issue of allowing lesbian and gay couples to get a civil marriage license at city hall, 71 percent of American Catholics say they are in favor."

In Washington State, the church also wields some influence (Gregoire herself is a Catholic.) Greg Magnoni, a spokesman for the Seattle Archdiocese, said the church would be "looking for the Legislature to uphold the current legal definition of marriage as between a man and a woman. The position of the Catholic Church is clear."

Sharing Stories

Still, the march towards full marriage equality in Washington State is gaining ground. Thalia Zepatos, director of public engagement for Freedom to Marry, attributes that to gay activists as well as straight allies such as Gregoire sharing their personal stories instead of constantly talking about benefits. "For so many LGBT people and their closest friends and relatives, the denial of benefits has been a strong message that has helped build support for domestic partnership, as well as marriage," Zepatos concedes. Still, that may be too legalistic and abstract an approach for such an emotional issue.

The argument about benefits has also worked against us, Zepatos adds. "For many of those well-intentioned people, talking about marriage as a collection of legal rights has two outcomes. First, it shores up the case for domestic partnership or civil unions. Second, it reinforces their concern that same-sex couples really don't 'understand,' or share, their values around marriage," she said.

"For that reason," she concluded, it's important for us to share our own values, and get to the heart of why marriage for same-sex couples is so important." In order to address people's concerns about marriage for gay couples, we must keep in mind the potential internal conflicts they will face and that such conflicts can take time and engagement to resolve."

When asked what marriage means, most people immediately mention "commitment," according to Zepatos. "The best way to connect around the freedom to marry is to show the commitment of gay couples that are already doing the work of marriage in everyday life," she said. "We can demonstrate the power of commitment by telling the stories of long-term couples, by highlighting acts that show such couples taking responsibility for each other, taking care of each other, putting their partner first, taking care of their children, their elderly parents, and their community. Luckily, there are so many stories in the community that make these very points."

State Sen. Kevin Ranker, a Democrat representing Orcas Island, applauded the Gov. Gregoire and shared a surprising story of his own: Ranker was raised by a gay man.

"Growing up, I was taught that a family was not determined by the genders of the persons involved but by the love and commitment that they shared. I was taught that every person is to be treated with respect and dignity," Ranker said. "These are the values that I have carried with me throughout my life. These are the values that my wife and I have passed on to our daughter."

He called the marriage equality legislation discussed by the governor "a long overdue recognition of these core human rights. This legislation does not create new rights for gay and lesbian couples," he pointed out. "Nor does it force our religious institutions to abide by new rules. This legislation simply recognizes that all families deserve to be treated with respect and dignity.

"As the son of a gay man, I grew up with a strong value system nurtured by a father who provided me with a foundation to succeed and gave me unconditional love and support," said Ranker. "This legislation will provide thousands of families like mine with the respect and dignity they deserve.

"For decades our country has struggled with discrimination in many forms. While it takes time, education and sacrifice to conquer injustices, those on the side of promoting tolerance and equality have always prevailed," he concluded. "This year, we have a chance to do something wonderful for thousands of Washingtonians. This year we have the opportunity to stand up for equality for all."

GOP Allies Announce

In Washington State, public opinion shows that most people support same-sex marriage. One well-regarded poll showed that barely 40 percent of the electorate would vote to repeal it once the Legislature passed it. Now the lawmakers seem to be jumping aboard. The first legislative session of 2012 began this week and already support for the passive of a gay marriage bill has emerged.

AP reported more lawmakers resolutely supporting same-sex marriage than opposing it, by a margin of 21-18 -- just four votes short of the 25 the measure needs to pass the Senate. But New York State may have set another precedent, when six GOP state senators made headlines by backing gay marriage. The switchovers were enough for the measure to pass the GOP-majority house.

Something similar may be happening in Washington State. On Jan. 9, State Sen. Steve Litzow announced he would be the first Republican in the Senate to support Gay marriage.

"I'm a traditional Republican," Litzow, a freshman lawmaker from Mercer Island told The Seattle Times editorial board. "When you think about gay marriage, it's the right thing to do and it's very consistent with the tenets of being a Republican -- such as individual freedom and person responsibility."

He was joined on Jan. 10 by GOP State Sen. Cheryl Pflug. "I have been a longtime supporter of human equality," said Pflug, a lawmaker from Maple Valley who voted for domestic-partnership benefits twice before. "I do not feel diminished by having another human being experience the same freedom I am entitled to exercise. I would feel diminished by denying another human the ability to exercise those same rights and freedoms."

Now Comes the Hard Part

Both Litzow and Pflug support the legislation without a public referendum.

Two first-term Republican Sens. Joe Fain of Auburn and Andy Hill of Redmond have declined to say whether or not they would officially support the bill, but left open the possibility of doing so after the discuss the issue with constituents.

State Sen. Ed Murray, the openly gay lawmaker leading the charge to pass a marriage equality bill, told AP that he remains "50 percent optimistic" the bill would pass. "I can't declare victory," he said. "I don't think we'll know we have the votes until we actually vote."

Murray, who has spent years leading efforts to approve same-sex marriage and other pro-LGBT legislation in Olympia, noted that he saw a gay civil rights measure he spearheaded lose by one vote in 2005 before it passed by a single vote the following year.

As for rounding up the votes from undecided lawmakers, Murray acknowledges that each one of them that he has talked with on the issue "has a very difficult personal struggle. This isn't a policy debate, or something you can trade a vote for," he said. "It's such a personal decision."

One undecided Democrat, State Sen. Brian Hatfield, describes himself as being "torn" by the debate and backlash that is almost guaranteed to come no matter what his decision is. "The supporters of the bill determine you're a 'hateful bigot' if you vote no," he wryly noted, "while the opponents question your faith and say you're 'turning your back on God' if you vote yes."

All that may be moot as of Jan. 23. Democratic State Sen. Mary Margaret Haugen announced that she was moving from the undecided column to the pro marriage-equality side of the aisle. "I know this announcement makes me the so-called 25th vote, the vote that ensures passage," Haugen said in a statement reported by AP. Haugen said she made her decision after taking time "to reconcile my religious beliefs with my beliefs as an American, as a legislator, and as a wife and mother who cannot deny to others the joys and benefits I enjoy. This is the right vote and it is the vote I will cast when this measure comes to the floor."

If a same-sex marriage bill were approved by the Legislature, Washington would become the seventh state in the country to legalize gay marriage. Six states plus the District of Columbia recognize marriage for same-sex couples: Connecticut, Iowa, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, New York, and Vermont. Nine states --California, Delaware, Hawaii, Illinois, Nevada, New Jersey, Oregon, Rhode Island, and Washington - provide same-sex couples with access to the state level benefits and responsibilities of marriage, through either civil unions or domestic partnerships. Same-sex couples do not receive federal rights and benefits in any state.