Chris Gregoire, Washington Governor, Announces Support For Gay Marriage Bill

SEATTLE--Washington governor Chris Gregoire announced her support for gay marriage legislation on Wednesday, potentially putting the state on track to become the nation's seventh to fully recognize same-sex unions.

Democrat Gregoire, in the final year of her second term, is backing legislation to be introduced before the Washington state legislature, which reconvenes next week.

"It is time in Washington state for marriage equality," said Gregoire at a media conference in the state capital of Olympia. "It is time, it's the right thing to do."

Six U.S. states currently allow same-sex marriage: New York, Massachusetts, Connecticut, Vermont, New Hampshire and Iowa. Gay marriage is also legal in the District of Columbia.

Although Democrats hold majorities in both Washington state's chambers, a bill is not certain to pass, as some conservative Democrats have sided with Republicans on the issue.

Gregoire's move comes a month after she joined forces with Rhode island's governor to ask the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration to allow doctors to legally prescribe marijuana as a medical treatment.

The 64-year old governor, who has held the office since 2004, said in June that she will not run for a third term in November elections.

(Reporting by Laura Myers; Writing by Bill Rigby; Editing by Greg McCune)

Copyright 2012 Thomson Reuters. Click for Restrictions.

Earlier on HuffPost:

Comments

[Dan Crocker]

03:59 PM on 01/23/2012

So, are the people of the state involved in this decision making or is this something our elected politicians decided to do whether we liked it or not?

[talkstocoyotes]

09:46 AM on 01/11/2012

One of the posters here dismissed the whole idea of marriage equality as "sorry, some things are just they way they are. I don't make up the rules." Anyone care to guess what the state of civil rights in this country and elsewhere would be if people went by that consistently?

It's worth noting that those who feel it necessary to point out that they "don't make the rules" are profiting from them at best and aren't impacted by them at worst. That statement should raise the same red flags as "life isn't fair" -- those who smugly parrot that phrase have an interest in not considering how much of life's unfairness if preventable and how vehemently people will defend a status quo that works -- for them.

[talkstocoyotes]

07:58 AM on 01/06/2012

More chips in the wall of legally-sponsored homophobia. Great way to start a New Year!

[Leo F Venuti]

07:13 AM on 01/06/2012

So, which is it? marraige or same sex union. there is a difference.

[Dan Crocker]

04:01 PM on 01/23/2012

Same sex marriage is the goal - whether the citizens of this state support it or not.

[oneofthefolks]

04:49 AM on 01/06/2012

Maybe the governor realizes she won't win re-elction without the gay vote. Just wonderin'? Hey go ahead and get married I don't have a prob with it.

[TBJ]

02:39 PM on 01/06/2012

She's not running for re-election. Read the article.

[Dan Crocker]

05:18 PM on 01/23/2012

All depends on where your core values lie. You know, those spelled out in the Bible. If you have none, or don't believe what the Bible (a man made creation and thus fallible) teaches, then you are more than likely going to be ok with this.

[send4pizza]

12:59 AM on 01/06/2012

Wow. I wish the republicans in Iowa were so concerned about the budget that they knew they didn't have time to work on the issue of gay marriage. In Iowa, the radical right have turned gay marriage into a matter more critical than the state budget, abuse of the elderly in nursing homes, education reform., etc. Whatever the critical need, the Iowa republicans find gay marriage to be much more important. Of course, they take their marching orders from organizations with names that begin with "Family" but who don't care one whit about gay families and instead wish to impose their religious interpretations upon all citizens.

[a man]

09:27 PM on 01/05/2012

I am a Catholic man and a member of the Knights of Columbus. But I support gay marriage. The reason why? I know that being homosexual is not a choice, it is the way you were born. I'm straight, but I have marched in Washington D.C. for gay rights and in my state capitol for abortion rights. If you're gay, you have my support. No matter where you live.

[Ioan Lightoller]

10:33 PM on 01/05/2012

Fanned and faved and thanks for being such a great ally.

[Volantiad]

05:45 AM on 01/06/2012

Yes, A Man: thanks for your support!

[hk usp 45]

07:58 PM on 01/05/2012

If you don't want 8 wives, don't marry them.

[talkstocoyotes]

08:00 AM on 01/06/2012

"If you don't want 8 wives, don't marry them."

Assuming you could find even half that number who'd be interested!

[swerver]

07:09 PM on 01/05/2012

cnsbks
“If you are opposed to gay sex.......­­­­­­­don'­t have any!
If you are opposed to gay marriage..­­­­­­­...d­o­n­'­t marry a gay person!
if you are opposed to gays in the military..­­­­­­­....­d­o­n­'­t join the military!
if you are opposed to sodomy....­­­­­­­....­.­.­.­.­.­­.­­..­..­.­d­o­n­'­t bend over!
if you are opposed to oral sex.......­­­­­­­....­.­.­.­.­.­­.­­.t­he­r­e must be something wrong with you!””

[Bob Kellerman]

07:33 PM on 01/05/2012

SAD, SAD, SAD, SAD

Total failure to see that another point of view might be valid
-- and total lack of understanding of the people of Washington

MY EQUIVALENT REPLY:

Why is it that most republicans are in favor of limiting others' rights? Do they really believe that it is their business whom someone loves? Do they care that their disgusting descriptions of other people's lives cause unhappiness and suicide? What makes them think that their version of "morals" should be imposed on others? Why doesn't this change?

[Talossa]

04:28 PM on 01/05/2012

OK, now is the time for all those conservative "strict constructionists" to pledge their undying loyalty to the Full Faith and Credit clause of the Constitution.

[GDWhiteman]

05:35 PM on 01/05/2012

Is that fair? Come on. You *know* those conservative strict constructionists only talk about the parts of the constitution that *they* want enforced from their perspective. The rest of the time, they're talking about all the amendments it still needs. {end of sarcasm}

[talkstocoyotes]

08:04 AM on 01/06/2012

Actually, for a hefty number of our conservatives in Congress at present, the Constitution has been trumped by Grover Norquist.

[bldr1bob]

04:12 PM on 01/05/2012

I'm glad gays can finally marry. Now you'll be just as unhappy as the rest of us. Can we now refer to you as Sads?

[truelinguist]

08:52 PM on 01/05/2012

Shrug. Call me anything you like, if it makes you happy. ;-)
My partner of many years and I are actually very happy. We remain very much in love. I feel blessed that I get to spend my life with someone that wonderful. He seems to feel the same way, so I'd say we're both pretty fortunate.

What do I wish for you and, for that matter, for everyone reading this-- only that you too find your soul mate and that you find true happiness in your lives as well!

Peace

[bldr1bob]

09:24 PM on 01/05/2012

Bless you both.

[Ioan Lightoller]

10:37 PM on 01/05/2012

My husband and I have been married for almost 5 years and we are still very happy and in love. So sorry, the term Sads doesn't apply to us.

[outloud]

02:57 PM on 01/05/2012

While I'm glad she spoke out in a favorable manner, I am fed up with politicians, athletes and cops only speaking their minds when they have either retired or are about to leave office.

Truth telling is good at all times...not just when it's 'safe'.

[Dan Crocker]

05:39 PM on 01/23/2012

When I was a cop I had to be politically correct. That restriction has been removed since I retired and I am now allowed to speak my mind and tell folks, politicians, etc. exactly what I think of them and of what they're into. It's quite enlightening actually.

[happyblackman]

02:17 PM on 01/05/2012

Good for the State of Washington!

[moore2george]

06:50 PM on 01/10/2012

yea they fit in with the rest of the politicians.

[informed citizen]

01:22 PM on 01/05/2012

So all of you who think being gay is a "lifestyle choice" answer this. At what age were YOU when YOU decided whether decided YOU would be attracted to boys or girls? What factors did YOU consider in YOUR decision? Or did you just know and not make that decision?

[John B]

04:40 PM on 01/05/2012

The bible says every person was given a measure of faith.Every person has a conscience.The bible says in Genesis 2 v 18-As he created the world He saw something missing-Now the Lord God said it is not good for man to be alone:I will make him a helper.-verse 21,22 And the Lord God caused a deep sleep to fall upon Adam;and while he slept,He took one of his ribs and closed up the flesh.And the part of his side,which the Lord God had taken from the man He built up and made into a woman,and He brought her to the man.That demonstrates God's intent towards the whole human race.This expresses His best which brings reproduction.People that say born that way,are calling the Creator of the universe a liar.If you choose that behavior,that's on you.It's called sin.Don't try to call God a liar and use a man-made word like orientation.God doesn't make mistakes.He is a respecter of man's free-will.The choices you make in this life,you will,as I will,have to give an account for on the day of judgement

[joemondo]

05:23 PM on 01/05/2012

Your religious beliefs are of no relevance.

[BrickBear]

05:24 PM on 01/05/2012

Oh please stuff your fairytale book in your back pocket and walk away...

[BrickBear]

05:21 PM on 01/05/2012

I chose to be straight when I was 16 because I hated the fact that I knew I was born gay. Didn't help though...

[LI2USsomemore]

01:17 PM on 01/05/2012

We came that close to having that DINOsaur Rossi as governor. I live in rural, eastern WA where the retardation rate is exceptionally high.

[moore2george]

06:53 PM on 01/10/2012

i can tell.