Senate approves same-sex marriage on 28-21 vote

Kara Haney, left, and her partner of 8 years Kate Wertin, right, embrace in the Lobby Bar in Seattle's Capitol Hill neighborhood as the Washington State Senate passes a bill that would legalize gay marriage in Washington State on Wednesday, February 1, 2012. Dozens gathered at the bar to watch the debate via TV on the senate floor. less Kara Haney, left, and her partner of 8 years Kate Wertin, right, embrace in the Lobby Bar in Seattle's Capitol Hill neighborhood as the Washington State Senate passes a bill that would legalize gay marriage in ... more Photo: JOSHUA TRUJILLO Photo: JOSHUA TRUJILLO Image 1 of / 20 Caption Close Senate approves same-sex marriage on 28-21 vote 1 / 20 Back to Gallery

The Washington state Senate, in an historic action, voted 28 to 21 on Wednesday night to legalize marriage between same-sex partners.

"We ask for your support tonight because marriage is the way society says you are family," said state Sen. Ed Murray, D-Seattle, chief sponsor of the legislation and a gay man in a two-decade partnership.

Regardless of how his colleagues voted, Murray added, they will receive a wedding invite from him. A practicing Catholic, Murray has said he is pained that he will not be able to marry in his church.

The House of Representatives is expected to approve the legislation within a week. Gov. Chris Gregoire, who watched Wednesday night's debate, has become a passionate advocate of marriage equality at the end of what she described as a "personal journey."

The bill passed with support from 24 Democrats and four Republicans. Eighteen Republicans and a trio of Democrats -- State Sens. Jim Hargrove, Tim Sheldon and Paull Shinn -- voted no.

Debate was often emotional.

"As the son of a gay man . . ." began Democratic state Sen. Kevin Ranker, who concluded his speech with the words: "I am proud to stand on the right side of history and to vote for marriage equality and I am proud to stand for my father."

State Sen. Steve Hobbs, a moderate Democrat from Snohomish County -- and candidate for Congress in the 1st District -- talked of serving with gays and lesbians in the military. "How can I look them in the eye, Mr. President, if I vote no on this bill?" Hobbs asked.

State Sen. Steve Litzow, a first-term Eastside Republican, was one of the four Republicans to support marriage equality. "I believe an adult should be able to marry the person they love: It's that simple for me," said Litzow.

Three other suburban Republicans voted "Yea" -- Sens. Cheryl Pflug, Joe Fain and Andy Hill. Fain and Hill, both elected in 2010, were undecided going into the vote.

State Sen. Brian Hatfield, a Democrat from southwest Washington and one of the last to declare in favor, introduced an amendment to put the marriage equality issue to a vote in November. It was defeated by a 26-23 vote.

GOP State Sen. Mike Padden introduced an amendment that would have allowed those performing civil marriages to opt out of marrying same-sex couples. It lost. So did an amendment allowing "Catholic florists" and others with moral reservations to refuse service to same-sex weddings. It, too, was defeated.

Washington stands to become the seventh state to legalize marriage between same-sex couples. New York acted last year, like Washington with the backing of a Catholic governor -- Andrew Cuomo -- and crucial support from four Republicans in the New York State Senate.

Joel Connelly has been a staff columnist for more than 30 years. He comments regularly on politics and public policy. Joel Connelly has been a staff columnist for more than 30 years. He comments regularly on politics and public policy.

Same-sex marriage is currently legal in New York, Connecticut, Massachusetts, Vermont, New Hampshire, Iowa and the District of Columbia. A statewide vote on the issue is likely in Maine this fall. In Maryland, another Catholic governor -- Martin O'Malley -- is urging his legislature to act.

"I believe this will not be the final word on this issue, as it is almost certain the voters of this state will have a chance to weigh in with our collective 'yea' or 'nay'," said Hatfield.

Opponents will have until early June to collect 120,577 valid voters signatures to force a referendum on same-sex marriage in November.

They succeeded, three years ago, in forcing a public vote -- Referendum 71 -- on the Legislature's domestic partnership legislation. Voters approved it, making Washington the first state in America to vote in favor of rights for same-sex couples.

Opponents, mainly evangelical Christians, gained an outspoken ally this year. The state's four Catholic bishops issued a statement calling on their parishoners to contact legislators and defend the traditional definition of marriage. Seattle Archbishop J. Peter Sartain testified before a Senate committee against the legislation.

The Washington Poll, which has measured rapid opinion changes in the last six years, found last fall that 55 percent in a statewide poll said they would vote to sustain same-sex marriage if passed by the Legislature.

Marriage equality is certain to be an issue in the governor's race this fall. Democratic U.S. Rep. Jay Inslee supports it. Republican Attorney General Rob McKenna, while supporting the state's "Everything but marriage" domestic partnership law, says he will vote against marriage if it is on the ballot.

Marriage equality attained "critical mass" in a hurry. Gay civil rights legislation was first proposed in 1977, and eventually passed by the Legislature in 2006. The path to marriage has taken less than six years.

IT has been somewhat overwhelming for long-partnered same-sex couples.

"A lot of people are just stunned particularly in my age group: I don't think we thought this would come in our lifetimes," Murray told reporters after the vote.

At a recent marriage equality organizing session in Gig Harbor, State Rep. Laurie Jenkins, D-Tacoma, remarked: "Here I am at 47, (and) something I could not imagine 25 years ago can happen."